NMA Lunchtime Seminars: Focus on Natural Materials in Composites

Tasmin Boam

Development Engineer, Composites Evolution

Tasmin works for Composites Evolution, a prepreg manufacturer based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Primarily, she ais a research and development engineer, helping develop new products, with a special focus on more sustainable prepreg solutions. Prior to her employment at Composites Evolution she attended Loughborough University, graduating in 2020 with a First Class Honours Masters degree in Materials Engineering. Tasmin was also the recipient of the 2020 IOM3 R H Craven prize, awarded to the best polymer graduate in the UK.

: https://compositesevolution.com/
: tasminboam

Professor Hom Nath Dhakal

Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Portsmouth

Professor Hom Nath Dhakal is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, University of Portsmouth, UK. In addition, he is also a Docent (visiting) Professor of Bio-based materials at the Faculty of Textiles Engineering and Business, University of Borås, Sweden.

He leads the Advanced Polymers and Composites (APC) Research Group within the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering. His principal research interest lies in the design, development, testing and characterisation of sustainable lightweight composites, nanocomposites, natural fibre composites and biocomposites, including their mechanical (tensile, flexural, low-velocity impact and fracture toughness), thermal and environmental properties (dimensional stability under various environmental conditions).

He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Chartered Engineer (CEng), a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET), Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM³) (FIMMM) and a member of the American Society for Composites (MASC). 

Professor Dhakal is the author/co-author of over 150 publications in the area of light weight sustainable composite and biocomposites that have attracted nearly 4,000 citations with an h-index of 31; i10-index of 63 (Google Scholar); ResearchGate score of 36.10, higher than 95% of all ResearchGate members’ scores.

: http://www2.port.ac.uk/school-of-engineering/research/advanced-materials-and-manufacturing-research-
: hom-dhakal-54980471

Callum Hill

Director, JCH Industrial Ecology Ltd

Callum graduated with a first class honours degree in Chemistry from the University of Bristol and was awarded a PhD for his work on Organometallic gas sensors from the CNAA. He was conducted research into polymer degradation, non-aqueous colloids, non-linear optics, renewable materials and sustainability assessment. He is currently director of JCH Industrial Ecology Ltd, an environmental consultancy, and is also senior consultant at Renuables Ltd, where he conducts life cycle assessments. He is a visiting research consultant at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research. He has written two books, 8 book chapters and over 200 research papers.

: www.jchie.co.uk
: callum-hill-3b281a26

John Summerscales

Professor of Composites Engineering, University of Plymouth

John Summerscales entered the composites sector 44 years ago, and after time with the Ministry of Defence (Navy) as a Higher Scientific Officer, he joined the academic staff at the University of Plymouth.  He is now Professor of Composites Engineering and leads the MAterials and STructures (MAST) research group.

: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/john-summerscales
: johnsummerscales