Mechanical Engineering student wins international prize
A Sussex student has been named Best Mechanical Engineering Student in Europe's most important awards for science and technology undergraduates.
Engineering undergraduate Daniel Riszczuk (left) receives the 2013 SET Award for Best Mechanical Engineering Student from Russell Curry, Nuclear Engineering Director of Babcock’s Marine & Technology division.
Mechanical Engineering finalist Daniel Riszczuk with his prize-winning Constant-Power Continuously Variable Transmission project.
Finalist Daniel Riszczuk won the Babcock Award, judged by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), at the 2013 SET (Science, Engineering & Technology Student of the Year) Awards.
Daniel won with a project to make a prototype of a Constant-Power Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
He said: “I was surprised to hear that I had been put forward for the award but winning feels like a great validation of the hard work I put into this project.
“I will be continuing to work on developing the CVT as part of my final-year group project and I am looking forward to the new challenges it will bring.”
Students can be nominated for these awards only by their lecturers and Daniel was nominated by his project supervisor, Dr Romeo Glovnea, who said: “The SET Awards are supported by world-leading industrial companies such as Airbus, AWE, Babcock International, BP, Rio Tinto, Shell, and leading scientific and technical institutions. To have one of our students beating competition from top universities is a gratifying feeling.
“Daniel undertook the difficult task of making a prototype of the CVT, with restricted resources, but with true professionalism. His approach to the project was outstanding from the very beginning.”
Dr Helen Prance, Head of Engineering and Design, added: “We are very proud of Daniel’s achievements and this shows the strength of mechanical engineering at Sussex.”
Daniel collected his prize trophy in front of hundreds of students, academics and business leaders at a gala dinner and presentation ceremony on Thursday 26 September at Kensington Town Hall in London.