Dr Emma Sparks

Lecturer
Location: Shrivenham
E: e.sparks@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0) 1793 314570
Informatics and Systems Engineering


Current activities

Research Interests

Main area of interest is how to define human capability from an operational and enterprise standpoint. Other specific areas of interest include:

  • Harmonising HFI and SE approaches
  • Identifying discipline traits in order to facilitate effective team interaction
  • The role of competency frameworks for human systems practitioners
  • Enterprise architectures
  • Defining system of system challenges

Research Involvement

An active member of the HFI WG, also pursuing a number of other opportunities focused on Human Capability in the world.

Academic Activities


Module Leader: 

  • Capability Engineering and Systems Engineering
  • Workshop on the SEDC MSc
  • Input to Battlefield Technology Course
  • Defence Acquisition Management
  • Fundamentals of Modelling and Simulation
  • Intermediate Command and Staff Course
  • National and International Short Courses.

Professional Activities


Member of :

  • INCOSE
  • RUSI
  • IET
  • Fellow for the Higher Education Academy
  • Currently seeking IET Chartership.

Background

  • A Systems Engineer specialising in human systems
  • A doctorate in Systems Engineering for Defence from Cranfield focused specifically on soldier system capability
  • An MSc in Systems Engineering for Defence from Cranfield
  • A BSc (Hons) in Sports Science from Chichester
  • Before joining Cranfield University at Shrivenham worked for five years as a research scientist first as a graduate with the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency and latterly as technical lead for future soldier systems at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. During this time was responsible for numerous projects looking at all aspects of human protection and performance including running of trials in extreme environments to the development of processes to define and manage research and development of whole soldier system ensembles. Output from this work led to consultancy with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in Adelaide where she has worked extensively over the last three years helping them to progress L125, the Australian Soldier Modernisation Programme

 

In September 2005 joined Cranfield University as a lecturer

  • Providing education for post graduate students from industry, government and overseas
  • Along with support to a number of military courses which run at the Shrivenham site and bespoke short courses for overseas organisation and government, specialising in systems thinking, enterprise architecture and more recently Human Factors Integration

She brings a unique blend of disciplines to any problem not only having a detailed understanding of the dynamic complexity of humans, and their relationship with technical systems from an engineering perspective, but also the ability to understand complex problems from an abstract standpoint applying breadth as well as depth.

Selected publications

  • Currently editing Handbook of Military Textiles for Woodhead publishing
  • Sparks, E (2008). A fine balance. Defence Management journal. 2008
  • Sparks, E (2008) Chapter 1: Handbook of military textiles. Edited by Dr. Eugene Wilusz. Woodhead Publishing, UK. ISBN: 1845692063
  • Sparks, E (2007) “Soldier Systems Technical Risk Assessment: An Approach for Identification of Current and Future Integration Challenges”. Pervasive, Persistent, Proportionate. Landforce and Urban Warfare. Land Warfare Conference. 22nd-26th October 2007. Adelaide
  • Sparks, E (2006) “Fact or Fiction?” Dispelling the Complexity Myths Behind Dismounted Close Combat Requirements. Urbanisation, Complexity, Lethality- Meeting the Challenge for Land Forces. Land Warfare Conference. 24th-27th October 2006. Brisbane
  • Sparks, E. (2006). From Capability to Concept: Fusion of Systems Analysis Techniques for Derivation of Future Soldier Systems. PhD thesis. Engineering Systems Department. Cranfield University
  • Sparks, E. (2005). Soldier Modernisation - Trading Capability to Achieve Enhanced Combat Effectiveness. Warfighting in the 21st Century. Land Warfare Conference. 4th- 7th October 2005. Gold Coast
  • Sparks, E. (2005). The Soldier Modernisation Research Programme: Defining the Needs of the Future Soldier. Future Soldier Conference. 13th- 14th April 2005. London
  • Sparks, E. (2004). A Systems Approach to Delivery of Future UK Operational Clothing Soldier Systems. International Soldier Systems Conference. December 13th – 16th 2004. Boston
  • Sparks, E. (2004). UK Operational Clothing and Textile Programme- A Systems Approach to the Delivery of Future Soldier Systems. Weapons, Webs and War fighters. Land Warfare Conference. 27th- 30th September 2004. Melbourne
  • Sparks, E. (2004). The Use of Systems Engineering Techniques and Tools in Delivery of an Operational Clothing Soldier Systems Programme. Synergy Between Systems Engineering and Project Management. ICSE and INCOSE Conference. 15th- 18th September 2004. Las Vegas
  • Westwood, E. (2003). A Systems Approach to the Infantry Soldier. MSc thesis. No. 5 SED MSc course. Engineering Systems Department. Cranfield University. July 2003
  • Westwood, E. (2001). Best Foot Forward: UK Footwear Research Programme. An Overview. International Soldier Systems Conference. 28th- 30th November 2001. Bath
  • Westwood, E. (2001), Smith, N and Dyson, R. Comparison of the Influence of Three Types of Military Combat Boot Insole Upon the Force and Loading Rates Experienced in Drop Jump Landing. XIX International Symposium on Biomechanics in Sports. June 20th- 26th 2001. San Francisco