Dr Ben Thomas
- Principal Academic In Sustainable Design
- Poole House P301, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
Biography
Since arriving at Bournemouth University in 2002 Ben has followed a lifelong passion for Sustainable Design through both research and teaching. Bournemouth University was approached by the RNLI around 2002 with a request to assist them with a number of launching issues with their new Tamar class lifeboats. It was found that they lifeboats were getting stuck on the launch slipways and that the workaround solution of manually applying grease to the slipway was resulting in potentially harmful substances bio-accumulating around the base of the slipway. Following the award of MSc Sustainable Design (2004) Ben was offered the opportunity to study this problem in direct collaboration with the RNLI. This resulted in the development of a novel, water-based lubrication solution and upgraded slipway panel fitting criteria for the RNLI that eliminated the need for grease to be used on the launch slipway. This work was subsequently shortlisted for the Times Higher Education awards in the category ‘Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology’ in 2010... Ben continued to work with the RNLI following the completion of his PhD in 2009 and was appointed to the post of Lecturer in Sustainable Design shortly after. Within this post Ben has led the development of Sustainable Design teaching within BU Design and Engineering courses while continuing to research sustainable design issues including material and acoustic properties of recycled plastics and the design and use of local small-scale hydro-power around Poole Harbour. In addition to his research work and sustainable design teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in 2011 Ben took on the role of Course Co-Ordinator for Design Business Management BA. Ben continues to be active in both teaching and research and has recently been awarded two match-funded PhD studentships in collaboration with local companies to investigate marine sustainable design issues.
moreResearch
Ben has continued to be active in sustainable design research following the award of his own PhD entitled ‘Sustainable Design of Lifeboat Slipways’ in 2009. This has included research work in collaboration with SKF, Longitude Consulting Engineers Ltd., the Balmain trust and continued work with the RNLI. In addition Ben has developed a series of small scale research projects in collaboration with Oviedo University in Spain to investigate the material properties of recycled plastics.
Research topics within this field include the potential for mixed recycled plastics as a replacement for low-grade Polyurethane wheels, the characterisation of High Impact Polystyrene material properties under repeated recycle cycles, the characterisation of ABS material properties under repeated recycle cycles and the acoustic potential for recycled plastics to replace then use of hardwood tone woods in certain musical instruments.
Wider research topics also include lubricant condition monitoring work with the RNLI aimed at developing a novel, real-time condition based maintenance schedule for RNLI craft to reduce costs and to minimise maintenance induced failure. Ben also acts as supervisor to research work in collaboration with SKF looking at the characterisation of surface flaws on Silicon Nitride ball bearings.
Current research activities include two new match-funded PhD studentships entitled ‘Cradle to Cradle: Recyclable Materials Applied to Small Marine Leisure Craft’ (in association with Longitude Engineering), and ‘An Optimised Tidal energy Design for Poole Harbour’ (in association with the Balmain trust) as well as on-going plastics recycling work.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:
Affordable and clean energy
"Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all"
Affordable and clean energy
"Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all"
Affordable and clean energy
"Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all"
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
"Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation"
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
"Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation"
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
"Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation"
Responsible consumption and production
"Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns"
Responsible consumption and production
"Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns"
Responsible consumption and production
"Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns"
