WMG at the University of Warwick is delighted to announce the appointment of cyberpsychologist Professor Monica Whitty, who joins the Cyber Security research team from the University of Leicester, as Professor of Human Factors in Cyber Security.

As WMG’s first cyberpsychologist, Professor Whitty will work alongside colleagues in WMG’s Cyber Security Centre concentrating on the human element focusing on behaviour online to identify cyber criminals and in turn protect people from becoming victims.

Professor Whitty’s research spans 15 years focusing on the way individuals behave in cyberspace examining identities created in cyberspace, online security risks as well as detecting and preventing cybercrimes (e.g., mass-marketing fraud, insider threats).

"Breaches continue to take place without companies identifying the breach, or at least the full impact of the breach. The time taken between the breach occurring and notification to those whose details are breached can leave to risk of compromise of other accounts.

"We have an issue about how we authenticate ourselves to systems currently - mostly relying solely on passwords or personal information (when a password is forgotten)."

Carsten Maple, Professor of Cyber Systems Engineering at WMG's Cyber Security Centre (CSC)

Productivity is at heart of Government's industrial strategy. Now a new report by researchers, industry, and policy specialists entitled: “The Productivity Challenge: Solving the Puzzle,” looks at a range of positive attributes of the current UK economy and policy sphere which could position it well for growth in productivity.

WMG and WIG (The Whitehall and Industry Group) have collaborated over the past eight months in a series of events relating to the challenge of increasing UK productivity to improve the nation’s competitiveness.

Steel production in the UK could be cheaper and more energy-efficient in the future, thanks to research at WMG, University of Warwick.

The ASSURE2 project, led by Professor Claire Davis, is looking to significantly cut steel production costs, and reduce energy consumption by over 300%, through exploring the use of belt casting technology.

Belt casting is a significantly lower energy production route compared to traditional continuous casting techniques, as belt casting is a near net shape casting process, producing strip that needs minimal hot deformation to achieve the required product thickness.

It is also very efficient because it can minimise or eliminate any reheating processes, which reduces overall costs.

Furthermore, there are certain advanced high strength strip (AHSS) steel grades which are commercially attractive but cannot be produced using conventional casting techniques - which could be manufactured using belt casting.

Margaret Low, Principal Teaching Fellow at WMG, has been selected by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) for a National Teaching Fellowship.

Margaret was recognised by the HEA for her individual excellence, raising the profile of excellence and developing excellence in teaching.

Margaret is an inspirational educator with 30 years’ experience in the HE sector. She teaches on both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She is also our Widening Participation Officer, coordinating activities across the department and collaborating with other colleagues within the University.

A National Teaching Fellowship is the HEA’s most prestigious individual award for excellence in teaching in higher education.

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, Chairman of WMG said "I am delighted that Margaret has had her dedication to teaching recognised by the HEA. Her contribution to WMG has had a significant impact on the students she has taught and the department as a whole."

Warwick received three Fellowships (the most that any institution can be awarded) which makes it the only institution to achieve this distinction in 2016.

WMG, at the University of Warwick, will be building on its reputation in materials research, as it is set to be a hub for the development and application of advanced lightweight metals, thanks to a £1m Growth Deal award from the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP).

The award will create a local network of knowledge, equipment and skills – supporting WMG to share its expertise on steels and other advanced materials with companies in the CWLEP area, enabling them to exploit emerging technologies and new materials grades. In particular, those based on metallic materials and their effective forming and joining, often in combination with other materials.

The deal will fund new capital equipment, to be in WMG’s Advanced Steels Research Centre, based in the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Centre, which combined with WMG’s leading R&D capabilities will give local companies, in particular SMEs, the ability to introduce new market-leading products, improve the performance of existing products and introduce weight and/or cost saving in products.

Construction vehicles could become more efficient and environmentally-friendly, thanks to new technology developed by WMG at the University of Warwick.

Through a new Innovate UK research programme, WMG in collaboration with partners JCB and Pektron PLC are working to optimise the fuel economy of the next generation of off-highway vehicles.

Dr James Marco from WMG is leading the University’s contribution to the project that aims to introduce new intelligent power systems for improved engine operation.

This could lead to significant fuel savings and fewer carbon emissions for the industry.

Dr Marco’s team is analysing JCB’s current fleet to better understand the opportunities for emissions reduction and intelligent control.

Today’s construction industry is more environmentally-conscious than ever, and the amount of CO₂ emissions released by vehicles is a significant factor in deciding which ones to use during an assignment.

Lord Kenneth Baker, Baron of Dorking, British politician, former Conservative Member of Parliament and cabinet minister, visited the WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Solihull on Tuesday (15 November), to show his support for the work of the University Technical College.

The Royal Academy of Engineering has highlighted that the UK will need a million more engineers and technicians by 2020, which will require doubling the number of engineering apprentices every year. Under the leadership of Kate Tague, Executive Principal of the WMG Academies Trust, the WMG Academy in Solihull is playing a key role in addressing this need by creating a crucial link between national and local employers, parents and universities.

Lord Baker said: “I’m pleased to be visiting the WMG Academy for Young Engineers, Solihull, which is the 2^nd UTC supported by WMG and Jaguar Land Rover. I’ve been impressed by what I’ve seen, all of the pupils are enthusiastic and excited about studying engineering. With the need for more skilled engineers, the Academy gives these pupils the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge progressing into a higher apprenticeship, university or a job. I wish all the pupils good luck in their studies.”

Local budding engineers will be working alongside academics from WMG, at the University of Warwick, to get a taste of what a career in engineering is really like by building and racing their own electric vehicles.

The Greenpower Education Trust looks to address the skills gap that is growing in the UK automotive industry by engaging students in engineering at a young age. Pupils aged 9 to 11 will be given their own electric kit cars to design, build and race - guided by their teachers and supporting mentors from WMG and engineering students from Warwick. Pupils will then compete with their car in a regional Greenpower IET Formula Goblin race, scheduled to take place towards the end of the school year in 2017.

We are delighted that WMG has been awarded seven tuition fee bursaries through the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Programme, for individuals to retrain in cyber security.

Sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the bursaries are part of a pilot programme to address the significant mismatch in the supply and demand of adequately skilled cyber security professionals.

The project has been a huge help to the seven students who wouldn’t have been able to take up their studies without financial support. Current MSc Cyber Security and Management student, Ella-Karita Halsey commented: “I was overwhelmed when I was offered a bursary. I believe the bursary is set to propel me into a career within cyber security, and the GCHQ provisionally certified route of study gives a wide range of interesting topics, that are recognized as industry standard within the cyber community”. Davina Pattni also received a bursary to study for her MSc Cyber Security and Management: “The bursary has given me an opportunity to fast track my career within the cyber security industry."