Contact Helen Atkinson

Background

Helen was made CBE in the Queens New Year’s Honours 2014 for services to Engineering and Education and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the highest honour for an engineer in the UK. She joined Cranfield University as Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing in September 2017. The School has ~1200 MSc students, ~350 PhD students, ~400 staff. The School includis the £35M Aerospace Integration Research Centre (AIRC), the £67M Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC), the £10M MUEAVI autonomous vehicle test track, the Global Research Airport development projects and the £3M project to replace the National Flying Laboratory Classroom (NFLC) aircraft.

Before coming to Cranfield, Helen was at the University of Leicester where she was Head of the Department of Engineering, chaired the £17M project to rebuild the Percy Gee Students' Union and served as Graduate Dean. Helen was the first woman President of the Engineering Professors’ Council (the body which represents Engineering in universities throughout the UK) in its fifty year history and has also served as a Vice President and Trustee of the Royal Academy of Engineering. In 2010 she won a national award as a Woman of Outstanding Achievement in Science, Engineering and Technology for ‘Leadership and Inspiration to Others’. She has been a Visiting Professor at a number of universities across the world and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Liège for her international standing as a metallurgist and materials scientist.

Helen has a First Class degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge and a PhD from Imperial College. She is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Materials, Minerals and Mining and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.  Service on national bodies has included the Skills Panel of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (one of the world’s largest Engineering institutions), the Engineering Leaders Panel of the National Council for Universities and Business, and for five years chairing the Education and Skills Committee at the Royal Academy of Engineering. With the MoD she was a Secretary of State public appointment to a major safety committee.  


Clients

 Professor Atkinson holds University Executive responsibility for strategic relationships with  

  • BAE Systems

  • Boeing

  • Rolls Royce

  • Airbus

  • Thales

  • Saab


Publications

Articles In Journals

Conference Papers

  • Dai HJ, Sarwar M, Dong HB, Atkinson HV, D'Souza N & Lee PD (2017) Measurement of undercooling during casting of Ni-based superalloy IN792. In: Liquid Metal Processing and Casting (LMPC) 2007, Nancy, 2-5 September 2007.
  • Ennis PJ, Strang A, Gill SP, McColvin GM & Atkinson HV (2011) Microstructural stability of nickel-base alloys for advanced power plant applications. In: 8th International Charles Parsons Turbine Conference, Portsmouth, 5-8 September 2011.
  • Liu D, Atkinson HV, Kapranos P & Jones H (2011) Evolution of microstructure and effects of heat treatment on properties of thixoformed wrought 2014. In: International Conference on Advances in Materials and Processing Technologies, Dublin, 8-11 July 2011.
  • O'Brien RC, Ambrosi RM, Howe SD, Bannister NP & Atkinson HV (2009) Production of safe radioisotope heat sources by spark plasma sintering. In: 3rd Topical Meeting on Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2009, NETS 2009, Atlanta, 14-19 June 2009.
  • O'Brien RC, Ambrosi RM, Howe SD, Bannister NP & Atkinson HV (2009) Fabrication of prismatic fuel elements for space power and nuclear thermal propulsion reactors through novel encapsulation techniques. In: 3rd Topical Meeting on Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2009, NETS 2009, Atlanta, 14-19 June 2009.
  • Al-Harbi M, Atkinson HV & Gao S (2008) Modelling desulphurisation in steelmaking. In: AISTech 2008 - Iron and Steel Technology Conference, Pittsburgh, 5-8 May 2008.
  • Al-Harbi DM, Atkinson HV & Gao S (2007) Gas stirred ladle: multi-phase-species mathematical model. In: AISTech 2007 - Iron and Steel Technology Conference, Indianapolis, 7-10 May 2007.
  • Al-Harbi M & Atkinson H. Gao S (2007) Sulphide solubility limit in multicomponent slag system and its influence on the desulphurisation rate in steelmaking. In: 7th International Conference on Clean Steel, Balatonfured, 4-6 June 2007.
  • Veverkova J, Strang A, Marchant G, McColvin G & Atkinson H (2007) Microstructural evolution in high temperature creep and thermally aged HA230. In: 7th International Charles Parsons Turbine Conference, Glasgow, 11-13 September 2007.
  • Omar MZ, Atkinson HV, Kapranos P & Jaharah AG (2007) Mechanical properties and fracture surfaces of thixoformed HP9/4/30 steel. In: 10th ESAFORM Conference on Material Forming, Zaragosa, 18-20 April 2007.
  • Dai HJ, Dong HB, Atkinson HV, D'Souza N, Thuinet L & Lee PD (2007) The influence of dendrite packing patterns on primary spacing adjustment during directional solidification. In: Solidification Processing 2007: SP07: 5th Decennial International Conference on Solidification Processing, Sheffield, 23-25 July 2007.
  • Al-Harbi M, Atkinson HV & Gao S (2006) Modelling methodology for simulation of molten steel refining in a gas-stirred ladle using a coupled CFD and thermodynamic model. In: 11th (XI MCWASP) International Conference on Modeling of Casting Welding and Advanced Solidification, Opio, 28 May - 2 June 2006.
  • Omar MZ, Atkinson HV, Palmiere EJ, Howe AA & Kapranos P (2006) Thixoforming two different steels. In: 9th ESAForm Conference, Glasgow UK, 26-28 April 2006.
  • Dong HB & Atkinson HV (2006) Measurement of thermo-physical properties for solidification of aluminium alloys. In: 2006 Symposium on Simulation of Aluminum Shape Casting Processing - From Alloy Design to Mechanical Properties, San Antonio, Texas, 12-16 March 2006.
  • Atkinson HV & Ward PJ (2005) Flow visualisation for semi-solid alloys. In: 8th ESAFORM Conference on Material Forming, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 27-29 April 2005.
  • Atkinson & HV (2004) A review of the modeling of semi-solid processing from an experimentalist’s point of view. In: 7th ESAForm Conference, Trondheim, Norway, 1 April 2004.
  • Jirattiticharoean W, Jones H, Atkinson HV, Todd I & Kapranos P (2004) Thixoforming of aluminium 7XXX alloys produced using a cooling slope. In: 8th International Semi-Solid Processing Conference, Limassol, 21-23 September 2004.
  • Liu D, Atkinson HV & Jones H (2004) MTDATA thermodynamic prediction of suitability of alloys for thixoforming. In: 8th International Semi-Solid Processing Conference, Limassol, 21-23 September 2004.
  • Omar MZ, Palmiere EJ, Howe AA, Atkinson HV & Kapranos P (2004) Thixoforming of GFM M2 tool steel from the as-annealed condition. In: 8th International Semi-Solid Processing Conference, Limassol, 21-23 September 2004.
  • Atkinson HV, Liu TY, Ward PJ, Kirkwood DH & Kapranos P (2003) Transient behaviour of semi-solid slurries. In: 6th ESAform Conference, Salerno, Italy, 1 April 2003.
  • Yates JR, Shi G, Atkinson HV, Sellars CM, Anderson CW & Wei S (2002) Prediction of the big inclusions in large volumes of steel: fatigue tolerant design of steel components. In: 6th International Conference on Clean Steel, Balantonfured, 10 June 2001 - 12 June 2002.
  • Liu D, Atkinson HV & Kapranos P (2002) Structural evolution by RAP and thixoforming of wrought alloy 2014. In: 5th ESAFORM Conference on Material Forming, Krakow, 14-17 April 2002.
  • Kapranos P, Maud I & Atkinson HV (2002) Thixoforming of an extruded 6082 wrought aluminium alloy. In: 5th ESAFORM Conference on Material Forming, Krakow, 14-17 April 2002.
  • Atkinson HV (2002) Thixoforming of otherwise wrought aluminium alloys: thermodynamic predictions of amenable compositions. In: 5th ESAFORM Conference on Material Forming, Krakow, 14-17 April 2002.
  • Atkinson HV & Liu D (2002) Development of high performance aluminium alloys for thixoforming. In: 7th International Conference on Advanced Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Tsukuba, 25-27 September 2002.
  • Kapranos P & Atkinson HV (2002) Thixoforming 2014, 6082, 7010 and 7075 aluminium wrought alloys. In: 7th International Conference on Advanced Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Tsukuba, 25-27 September 2002.
  • Liu D, Atkinson HV, Kapranos P & Jones H (2002) Effect of heat treatment on structure and properties of thixoformed wrought alloy 2014. In: 7th International Conference on Advanced Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Tsukuba, 25-27 September 2002.
  • Haga T, Kapranos P, Kirkwood DH & Atkinson HV (2002) Thixoforming process using ingot cast by a cooling slope and low super heat casting. In: 7th International Conference on Advanced Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Tsukuba, 25-27 September 2002.
  • Haga T, Kapranos P, Kirkwood DH & Atkinson HV (2002) Rheocasting process using a cooling slope and low super heat casting. In: 7th International Conference on Advanced Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Tsukuba, 25-27 September 2002.
  • Haga T, Kapranos P, Kirkwood DH & Atkinson HV (2002) Microstructure at semisolid condition of aluminium alloy strip cast using a twin roll caster. In: 7th International Conference on Advanced Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Tsukuba, 25-27 September 2002.
  • Haga T, Kapranos P, Kirkwood DH & Atkinson HV (2002) Microstructure of extruded aluminium alloy bar at semisolid condition. In: 7th International Conference on Advanced Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Tsukuba, 25-27 September 2002.
  • Ward PJ, Atkinson HV, Kirkwood DH, Chin SB, Liu TY & Barkhudarov MR (2000) Thixotropic property measurement and flow modelling in semi-solid metal alloy slurry. In: 9th International Conference on Modelling of Casting Welding and Advanced Solidification Processes (MCWASP IX), Aachen, 20-25 August 2000.
  • Hogg SC, Kapranos P & Atkinson HV (2000) Silicon networks in aluminium-high silicon alloys and their effect on semi-solid processing. In: 6th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Turin, 27-29 September 2000.
  • Ward PJ, Atkinson HV & Kirkwood DH (2000) Thixoforming copper induction motor rotors. In: 6th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Turin, 27-29 September 2000.
  • Atkinson HV, Kapranos P & Kirkwood DH (2000) Alloy development for thixoforming. In: 6th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Turin, 27-29 September 2000.
  • Kirkwood DH, Ward PJ, Barkhudarov M, Chin SB, Atkinson HV & Liu TY (2000) An initial assessment of the FLOW-3D thixotropic model. In: 6th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Turin, 27-29 September 2000.
  • Chayong S, Kapranos P & Atkinson HV (2000) Semi-solid processing of aluminium 7075. In: 6th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Turin, 27-29 September 2000.
  • Liu TY, Kapranos P & Atkinson HV (2000) Assessing thixoformability by rapid compression testing. In: 6th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Turin, 27-29 September 2000.
  • Kapranos P, Kirkwood DH, Atkinson HV, Rheinlander JT, Bentzen JJ, Toft PT, Debel CP, Laslaz G, Maenner L, Blais S, Rodriguez-Ibabe JM, Lasa L, Giordano P & Chiarmetta GL (2000) Development of hypereutectic aluminium alloys for thixoforming based on the A390 composition. In: 6th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Turin, 27-29 September 2000.
  • Liu TY, Ward PJ, Kirkwood DH & Atkinson HV (2000) A study of the transient rheological behaviour of semi-solid Sn15%Pb alloy. In: XIIIth International Congress on Rheology, Cambridge, 20-25 August 2000.
  • Ward PJ, Atkinson HV, Kirkwood DH, Liu TY & Chin SB (2000) Issues in the validation of CFD modelling of semi-solid metal forming. In: 39th Annual Conference of Metallurgists: Mathematical Modelling in Metal Processing and Manufacturing, Ottawa, 20-23 August 2000.
  • Ward PJ & Atkinson HV (1999) Thixoforming and flow modelling of electric motor components’. In: 2nd ESAform Conference on Material Forming, Guimaraes, 13-17 April 1999.
  • Lowe A, Ridgway K & Atkinson HV (1999) Evaluating thixoforming for automotive applications. In: 32nd ISATA: Advances in automotive and transportation technology and practice for the 21st century, Vienna, 14-18 June 1999.
  • Ward PJ, Atkinson HV & Kirkwood DH (1998) Flow modeling and die design in the thixoforming of aluminium alloy demonstrators. In: 5th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Golden, CO, 23 June 1998 - 25 June 2008.
  • Burke KJ, Atkinson HV & McLelland ARA (1998) Thixoforming of aluminium 7075. In: 5th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Golden, CO, 23 June 1998 - 25 June 2008.
  • Pitts HE & Atkinson HV (1998) Thixoforming of 6061 Al alloy for automotive components. In: 5th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Golden, CO, 23 June 1998 - 25 June 2008.
  • Henderson NG, Mclelland ARA, Atkinson HV & Kirkwood DH (1993) High-temperature rheology of novel metal-matrix composites based on aluminum high-silicon alloys. In: 2nd International Conference on the Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Cambridge, MA, 10-12 June 1992.
  • Ward PJ, Atkinson HV, Kirkwood DH & Sellars CM (1993) Semisolid processing and microstructure in MMCS based on hypereutectic Al/Si alloys. In: 2nd International Conference on the Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Cambridge, MA, 10-12 June 1992.
  • Mclelland ARA, Henderson NG, Atkinson HV & Kirkwood DH (1993) The evaluation of rheological measurements on semisolid metal slurries. In: 2nd International Conference on the Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Cambridge, MA, 10-12 June 1992.
  • Atkinson HV, Crabbe MW & Walker R (1991) HIP diffusion bonding of austenitic to ferritic steels. In: 2nd International Conference on Diffusion Bonding, Cranfield, 28-29 March 1990.
  • Atkinson HV, Mclelland ARA & Rainforth WM (1991) Interfacial reactions during thixoforming of aluminum - SIC metal matrix composites. In: 2nd International Conference on Interfacial Phenomena in Composite Materials, Louvain, 17-19 September 1991.
  • Atkinson HV & Duffy DM (1986) Computer simulation of grain boundary migration mechanisms in nickel oxide. In: International Symposium on Metallurgy and Materials Science: Annealing Processes: Recovery, Recrystallisation and Grain Growth, Roskilde, 8-12 September 1986.
  • Atkinson HV, Le Claire AD & Steele BCH Grain growth in nickel oxide scales. In: 4th International Advanced Research Workshop on Nonstoichiometric Compounds, Keele, 1-5 September 1986.
  • Atkinson HV, Fletcher AJ, King S & Rickinson BA The isostatic pressing characteristics of 70/30 cupronickel castings. In: 4th International Conference on Isostatic Pressing, Stratford-Upon-Avon, 5-7 November 1990.
  • Ward PJ, Atkinson HV, Kirkwood DH & Sellars CM Al/Si metal matrix composites produced by spray-forming and thixoforming. In: Metal Matrix Composites III: Exploiting the Investment, London, 10-11 December 1991.
  • Henderson NG, Atkinson HV & Kirkwood DH The rheology of metal matrix composites based on aluminium-high silicon alloys. In: Metal Matrix Composites III: Exploiting the Investment, London, 10-11 December 1991.
  • Blackford JR, Jones H, Atkinson HV, Tidbury LE & King S The formation of aluminide coatings on nickel based materials by ion vapour deposition followed by hot isostatic pressing. In: Surface Engineering, Bremen, 9-11 March 1993.
  • Blackford JR, Jones H, Atkinson HV, Tidbury LE & King S The formation of aluminide diffusion coatings on nickel based materials by hot isostatic pressing. In: HIP-93, Antwerp, 21-23 April 1993.
  • King S, Fletcher AJ, Atkinson HV & Rickinson BA Removal of voids in 70/30 cupronickel castings by hot isostatic pressing. In: HIP-93, Antwerp, 21-23 April 1993.
  • Ward PJ, Elias L & Atkinson HV Processing parameters in the spray-forming and subsequent semi-solid forming of hypereutectic Al/Si-based MMCs. In: 2nd International Conference on Spray Forming, Swansea, 13-15 September 1993.
  • Anderson PRG, McLelland ARA & Atkinson HV Thixoforging of aluminium-based silicon carbide reinforced MMCs for automotive use.
  • Ward PJ, Anderson PRG, Atkinson HV, Kirkwood DH & Sellars CM Novel metal matrix composites based on aluminium/high silicon alloys produced by spray-forming and thixoforming.
  • Ward PJ, Atkinson HV, Kirkwood DH & Sellars CM Processing and properties of spray-formed and thixoformed Al-MMCs containing >25w/o silicon particulate. In: 3rd International Conference on 'Processing of Semi-Solid Alloys and Composites, Tokyo, 13-15 June 1994.
  • McLelland ARA, Atkinson MV, Kirkwood DH & Anderson PRG Thixoforming of a novel metal matrix composite. In: 3rd International Conference on 'Processing of Semi-Solid Alloys and Composites, Tokyo, 13-15 June 1994.
  • McLelland ARA, Atkinson HV, Kirkwood DH & Anderson PRG Design, processing and properties of a novel metal matrix composite. In: 2nd International Seminar on Experimental Techniques and Design in Composite Materials, Sheffield, 7-8 September 1994.
  • Atkinson HV, Kirkwood DH, McLelland ARA & Anderson PRG Advantages of semi-solid processing for rapid prototyping. In: 28th International Symposium on Automotive Technology and Automation: dedicated conference on Rapid Prototyping in Automotive Industries, Stuttgart, 18-22 September 1995.
  • Kirby G, Kapranos P, Atkinson HV & Ellis J Semi-solid metal processing of metal matrix composites for automotive applications. In: Lean Weight Vehicles, Gaydon, 24-25 November 1997.
  • McLelland ARA, Anderson PRG, Atkinson HV & Kirkwood DH Application of ceramic moulds to semi-solid metal forming. In: 4th International Conference on Processing of Semi-Solid Alloys and Composites, Sheffield, 19-21 June 1996.
  • Ward PJ, Atkinson HV, Kirkwood DH & Starr G Semi-solid processing of copper alloys for electric motor components.
  • Pibworth K, Atkinson HV, Kirkwood DH & McLelland ARA Thixoforming of a normally wrought aluminium alloy.
  • Lowe A, Atkinson HV & Ridgway K A computer package for evaluating the business process implications of thixoforming. In: 5th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Golden, CO, 23 June 1998 - 25 June 2008.
  • Shi G, Atkinson HV, Sellars CM, Anderson CW & Yates JR Assessment of steel cleanness by statistics of extremes methods. In: EUROMAT 2001: 7th European Conference on Advanced Materials and Processes, Rimini, 10-14 June 2001.

Books