Page 19 - Eclipse - Autumn 2021

RESEARCH NEWS

“Our virtual visitors could see how “The Royal Society Summer Exhibition Dr Shane Windsor, Senior Lecturer in
observing birds of prey has helped us lives on! Interesting, beautiful and Aerodynamics in Bristol’s Department
to develop hinged-wing aircraft for a useful science and a chance to chat of Aerospace Engineering, said: “Future
smoother ride and reduce the drag of to those involved. We got to show off aircraft and aerial robots may operate
future small aircraft with bird-like tails. owls, eagles, helium bubbles, air jets in very different ways from current
On top of that, we brought a slice and Augmented Reality that put a flying technologies. By studying bird flight,
of science directly to our audience barn owl in your living room, as well we can get inspiration for new ways of
whereby they could experiment by flying as explaining some of the tricks used solving challenges such as saving energy
our favourite barn owl, Lily, around by birds, and how they might improve and dealing with gusty wind conditions.
their home using our augmented reality aircraft design.” “It’s been amazing working with the RVC
experience, OwlAR.
Dr Jonathan Stevenson, Research to study how birds are adapted to fly so
“The all-digital format this year has Associate in Bird-inspired Aerodynamics efficiently and robustly.”
been a fun challenge and a great way from the University of Bristol’s See: stories.rvc.ac.uk/eagle-
to communicate our scientific research Department of Aerospace Engineering, inspired-engineering/index.html
to the world – we hope we have made said: “It has been tremendous fun for more information, illustrations
engaging interactive content with an curating our research for the public via and videos showing what we can
enduring appeal.” the Royal Society. We aimed to get learn from bird flight.
everyone thinking (and dreaming!) about
Professor Jim Usherwood, Wellcome
Trust Senior Research Fellow, said: the future of aircraft and to inspire the
scientists of tomorrow.”

RVC retains HR Excellence in Research Award

he RVC’s HR Excellence in practices align with the Concordat. perspectives which have shaped our
Research Award was renewed The RVC was also pleased to offer strategy and objectives for the years
earlier in the year, following its its robust action plan, developed in to come.
Teight-year review. collaboration with RVC researchers, “Researchers form a fundamental part of
outlining our next steps for implementing
The Award provides an important the RVC and I am gratified that our hard
mechanism for implementing the the principles. work and commitment to their career
principles of the Concordat to Professor Jonathan Elliott, who development has again been recognised
Support the Career Development of was Vice-Principal (Research and by Vitae with the HR Excellence in
Researchers, an agreement which Innovation) at the RVC when the Research Award. We pride ourselves
underpins the long-term career news was announced, said, “I am as being an internationally competitive
development of researchers – a central delighted that despite the challenges research-led institution and I am
tenet of the RVC’s academic and posed by COVID-19, we were able to confident that the successful integration
research mission. demonstrate our continued commitment of the Concordat’s principles will help
to supporting the development of us to continue to attract and retain
Upholding the highest recruitment
standards and practices, the RVC our researchers, at all stages of their some of the most innovative and
submitted a report to the awarding careers. Close collaboration of the talented researchers in veterinary and
body, Vitae, providing an internal gap Research Association was central to biological science.”
analysis of how existing policies and this success, providing us with the

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