Dr John Robertson-Begg

About

I have been the University of Derby for 23 years and currently hold the role of Senior Academic. Currently I am heavily involved in the delivery of the Aerospace Apprenticeship Programmes and am a year 3/4 tutor.

Teaching responsibilities

I am module leader for:

Materials Data Skills and Personal Development Planning
Thermodynamics and Structure of Materials
Advanced Materials Properties and Processing
Advanced Materials Science
Project Management and Team Leadership

and module tutor for

Independent Engineering Scholarship

Professional interests

My background is the cast metals industry. I have expertise in computer aided selection of materials and processes using Cambridge Engineering Selector software and in failure analysis.

My main interest at the moment is in the application of data science techniques and machine learning in engineering.

One of my other interests is TRIZ, which is a Russian devised problem solving methodology. I am interested in its application to problem solving in different areas. I would be delighted to link up with companies and other organisations this area. In particular I can run short courses in the subject tailored to individual company/business requirements.

Research interests

My PhD investigated the application of squeeze casting to the production of zinc-aluminium alloys and composites. For several years I worked on many cast metals projects involving alloying, heat treatment, and processing.

My current research interests are in the application of TRIZ methodology to different discipline areas. I am trying to demystify the various tools (at least 10 of them) into a unified methodology. In particular I am interested in whether the contradiction matrix is applicable over different subject areas.

My other interests are in computer-aided materials selection and failure analysis and also the application of TRIZ to these areas.

Membership of professional bodies

I am a Fellow of the Institute of Cast Metals Engineers. I have been a Chartered Engineer since 1998.

Qualifications

BTech(Hons) Metallurgical Engineering and Management, Loughborough University 1980
MSc Terotechnology, Manchester University 1982
PhD Metallurgical Processing, Loughborough University 1992
MBA Open University 1996
Certificate of Professional Practice in HE. University of Derby 2001
TRIZ Champion - Oxford Creativity 2014

Recent conferences

September 2013 Engineering Education for Sustainable Development (EESD13), Cambridge. Paper Presentation.
April 2014 Materials Education Symposium Cambridge. Oral Presentation
July 2014 Failure Analysis Conference, Lisbon Oral Presentation.
April 2016 Materials Education Symposium Cambridge. Poster Presentation. Finding innovative solutions to engineering problems using CES and TRIZ.

Experience in industry

I worked in the investment casting industry, the steel industry, the manufacturing industry and also for a research association and a professional body.

In total this accounts to 11 years experience in different aspects of engineering from process optimisation, industrial development, and organising a World Technical Seminar. I presented papers in the UK and America. I also visited Ukraine on a castings-related consultancy trip.

International experience

I travelled to Kuwait as part of my teaching duties
I have been involved in the setting up and management of an international collaboration between the University of Derby and Mediterranean College in Athens. I led the validation of two programmes:
- BSc (Hons) Mechanical Engineering
- BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering and Construction
I carried out site visits, wrote documentation and managed the Programmes for 2 years from 2012-2014 where I was involved in monitoring visits

Recent publications

February 2015 Book Chapter.

Development of non-Technical Skills Required by Future Global Practitioners in MSE and Corrosion Engineering. Chapter in Handbook of Research on Recent Developments in Materials Science and Corrosion Engineering Education