News

Two Durham University students present their research to MPs

(10 March 2006)

Two Durham University students will showcase their research to MPs at the House of Commons next week (13 March 2006).

Paul Jaquin, a postgraduate researcher in the School of Engineering, will travel to London to participate in the Annual Presentation by Britain’s Top Younger Scientists event organised by SET for Europe. The annual event awards prizes for the best research posters judged by a panel of senior colleagues from a wide range of science, engineering, medicine and technology. Paul will be displaying his research into ‘Rammed Earth’, an ancient construction technique used in many parts of the world. The predominantly Muslim building method has recently seen a revival as a new building technique because of its low carbon emission and high sustainability. Soil is taken from the ground and poured into formwork, similar to modern concrete, then compacted using a hand rammer to form a solid mass. The formwork is then removed leaving a firm wall. Long sections of the Great Wall of China, part of the Potala Palace in Lhasa and ancient structures in Spain and Morocco are all built using the Rammed Earth technique. Paul said: “By analysing historic structures we are able to better preserve them and make predictions about the future performance of existing buildings. My research combines complex soil mechanics models with structural analysis of historic structures, enabling a greater understanding of the failures and successes of ancient buildings.” Commercial rammed earth structures are making inroads into UK construction, where they are seen as more sustainable and better for the environment. Example being the Centre for Alternative Technology in Powys, Wales, the Eden Project in Bodelva, Cornwall and Rivergreen Sustainable office complex which is under construction in Durham. Rob Crain, a graduate student in the Institute for Computational Cosmology at Durham University’s Physics department will also be presenting his research at the House of Commons. He will showcase his research into Galaxy Formation Simulations, which has been featured at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition and on a recent BBC Horizon program.