NMG Lunchtime Seminars: Natural Materials in Sport

Darshil Shah

Associate Professor in Materials Science and Design Studio Teaching, University of Cambridge

Dr Darshil Shah works with scientists across disciplines on developing biomaterials, such as engineered wood, bamboo and natural fibre composites, as light-weight, sustainable and structural alternatives to conventional materials for various application sectors, including wind energy, construction, transport, health care, and consumer products. 

Prior to working at Cambridge, Darshil did post-doctoral research on silk-based and biological composites at the University of Oxford's Silk Group (Dept. of Zoology, 2013-2014), and obtained his PhD on developing plant fibre composites for wind energy applications at the University of Nottingham's Composite Research Group (Faculty of Engineering, 2009-2013).

: https://www.natmat.group.cam.ac.uk/People/DarshilShah
: @DarshilUShah

Parvez Alam

Senior Lecturer in Materials Modelling and Design, University of Edinburgh

Parvez currently holds a Senior Lectureship in Materials Modelling and Design at the University of Edinburgh.  Areas of interest: "structure, function and properties".

Ricardo J. Alves de Sousa

Assistant Professor - Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro

Ricardo Alves de Sousa (São Paulo, 7th October 1977) obtained BSc and MSc degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Porto in 2000 and 2003.

In 2006 and 2017, he obtained his PhD and Habilitation degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Aveiro, Portugal.

In 2011, he received the international scientific ESAFORM (European Association for Material Forming) prize* for outstanding contributions in the field of material forming. In 2013, he received the innovation prize from APCOR (Portuguese Association of Cork Material), Portugal. He presides over the Portuguese Association of Forensic Biomechanics.

He is the author of more than 100 scientific publications, dozens of book chapters and pedagogical contributions, rendering a current h-index of 25 (Scopus). He is the author of 3 patents.

His contribution to scientific society is reflected in several participations in scientific committees of international conferences, organization of scientific events and workshops and in editorial membership of international journals.