Hot talent in risk research
Dr Francesco Colella of the University’s BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering has been awarded the Technological Risk Prize in the inaugural Lloyd’s Science of Risk Prize.
The researcher was one of several University of Edinburgh academics acknowledged in the awards.
Tunnel fire prevention
Dr Colella was given the prize for his paper ‘A novel multiscale methodology for simulating tunnel ventilation flows during fires’.
Over the past decade, tunnel fires have caused around 400 deaths worldwide and have cost the European economy billions of Euros.
Dr Colella’s paper offers a multiscale model to provide engineers with an efficient means of carrying out computational tunnel fire ventilation flow simulations.
These simulations can help engineers conduct comprehensive risk analyses or assist with the design or assessment of ventilation and fire safety systems, potentially saving lives.
Best runner-up
Running second in the Technological Risk category was Medicine’s Craig Poland.
The postgraduate fellow was awarded Best Runner-up for his paper ‘Carbon nanotubes introduced into the abdominal cavity of mice show asbestos-like pathogenicity.’
Fire technology
Two further researchers from the University’s fire technology research grouping were also shortlisted in the awards.
Dr Wolfran Jahn of the School of Engineering was also shortlisted in the Technology Risk category for his paper ‘Forecasting growth using an inverse zone modelling approach.’
Dr Claire Belcher of the School of GeoSciences was shortlisted in the Climate Risk category for her paper ‘Increased fire activity at the triassic/jurassic boundary in greenland due to climate-driven floral change.’