Dr Winifred Obande receives Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship

Turning what would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated into valuable materials for cars, bridges, or wind turbines unlocks considerable potential. This can significantly reduce the environmental and economic impacts of our traditional use-and-dispose practices as we transition to sustainable engineering resources.  

As demand for lightweight composite materials continues to grow, most fibre reuse methods still only work on a small scale. Developing solutions that industry can adopt without sacrificing performance and productivity is therefore essential. Projects like Dr Obande’s could enable manufacturers to use higher-performance recycled fibre products in automotive, renewable energy, and civil applications. This research helps redefine how we design, build, and reuse materials for a sustainable future. 

I’m honoured to receive a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship. This award allows me to collaborate with leading partners across the carbon fibre value chain to deliver high-performance recycled fibre products that drive the wider adoption of sustainable composites across established and emerging lightweight manufacturing sectors.

Dr Winifred Obande, Lecturer and Elizabeth Georgeson Fellow in Sustainable, Multi-functional Composites

Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships support early-career researchers to establish successful research careers and become future research leaders in their fields. The scheme provides funding for five years to allow awardees the freedom to concentrate on basic research in any field of engineering and establish a track record in the field. Funding is provided by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). 

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