Chamber Patrons Chamber Patrons Greater Birmingham Chambers’ leading supporters Judges revealed


for scholarship An impressive line-up of influential professionals from a range of STEM industries will be a part of the judging panel for this year’s Millennium Point Trust Scholarship final. Now in its seventh year, the


Millennium Point Trust Scholarship has already funded six inspiring young people from the region through their degrees at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment. Previous winners of the


scholarship include Sagal Qodah in 2017, who has since gone on to graduate with a first class honours degree in Civil Engineering. The distinguished judging


panel, which will be headed by Abbie Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium Point, also features Professor Hanifa Shah, associate dean research, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, at Birmingham City University, Kari Lawler, founder at Youth4Code and Youth4AI, Mike Ridler - head of Business Development and Education at Learn by Design and Sam Gibbs, CEO at IT specialists 81G. Abbie saidd: “The calibre of


finalists for this year’s scholarship is impressive as ever, so it’s only right that the quality of our judging panel is equal to it. “This is a phenomenal


opportunity for all five students - not just the winner of the life- changing scholarship, but the advice and support they all receive from the Trust, both before and after the final.” The judges will hear


presentations from five selected finalists during a special assessment day on 21 May; seven days later, the winner will be announced during a closed ceremony at Millennium Point on 29 May. The event will be streamed


live from the newly- refurbished Auditorium in Millennium Point across the multi-award-winning venue’s digital channels.


28CHAMBERLINKMay 2021


New material offers better protection


Soldiers, athletes, and motorists could lead safer lives thanks to a new process that could lead to more efficient and re-useable protection from shock, impact, explosion, and vibration, according to a new study. Researchers from the Universities of Birmingham and


Oxford, together with Ghent University, Belgium, have published their findings on the pressurised insertion of aqueous solutions into water-repellent nanoporous materials, such as zeolites and metal-organic frameworks, in the Nature Materials journal.


‘The process we have discovered creates a material that can absorb more mechanical energy per gram’


The international research team experimented with


hydrothermally stable zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with a ‘hydrophobic’ cage-like molecular structure – finding that such systems are remarkably effective energy absorbers at realistic, high-rate loading conditions, and this phenomenon is associated with the water clustering and mobility in nanocages. Dr Yueting Sun, lecturer in Engineering at the


University of Birmingham, said: “Rubber is widely used


Effective absorbers: Process could provide athletes with enhanced protection


for shock absorption nowadays, but the process we have discovered creates a material that can absorb more mechanical energy per gram with very good reusability due to its unique nanoscale mechanism. “The material has great significance for vehicle crash


safety for both occupants and pedestrians, military armoured vehicles and infrastructures as well as human body protection. “Soldiers and police could benefit from better body


armour and bomb suits, athletes might wear more effective helmets, knee pads and shoe insoles as the material is liquid-like and flexible to wear.” Researchers also say that the material could also be


incorporated into machinery to reduce harmful vibrations and noise - reducing maintenance costs.


Businessman helps Aston students


Former chief executive of price comparison website GoCompare, Matthew Crummack, has made a six-figure donation to Aston University, to help students in financial need. Matthew’s own experiences of


studying at Aston University in the 1990s were, he says, formative, and his significant donation will be used to support students via scholarships and the institution’s student hardship fund. Matthew has been a long-time


supporter of Aston University and is an enthusiastic spokesperson for its achievements, especially the university’s focus on employability. He himself graduated from a BSc


in International Business and French at Aston University in 1993. His career to date has taken him into well-known companies such as GoCompare, lastminute.com, Expedia, Nestlé and Procter & Gamble. In April 2020 he was appointed as senior independent director on


the main board of National Express plc.


Matthew was awarded an


honorary doctorate by Aston University in 2016, in recognition of his professional achievements and service to the university. He said: “I count myself as


fortunate to have had the opportunity of a good education, as it opened so many doors for me. “My time at Aston University


gave me confidence to go out, find


Giving back: Matthew Crummack


a job and be motivated to work hard and do well. It also gave me lifelong friendships and a whole collection of happy (and funny) memories.


‘I count myself as fortunate to have had the opportunity of a good education’


“I hope this gives young people


who are struggling financially the opportunity and confidence to build a strong future for themselves.” Aston University’s director of


development and alumni relations, Kerrie Holland, added: “We are delighted to receive this donation and so grateful to Matthew for his support. Thanks to his generosity, many Aston University students with financial difficulties can stop worrying about making ends meet and stay focused on achieving their ambitions.”


Contact: Henrietta Brealey T: 0121 274 3266


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