Atomic Energy Authority leaders elected to Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowship

Two leaders from the Abingdon-based UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) have been elected to the Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowship.

Professor Ian Chapman, chief executive, and Chris Waldon, chief engineer and deputy director of UKAEA’s Special Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme, have been chosen for making “exceptional contributions to fusion energy”.

They join the approximately 1,700 distinguished engineers in the academy’s ranks, which also includes UKAEA’s Dr Rob Buckingham, director of RACE. The academy collates the knowledge and experience of some of the top engineers, inventors and technologists in the UK and abroad.

Ian Chapman said: “Delivering fusion energy is a huge challenge which requires the very best scientists and engineers in many disciplines working together – I am hugely fortunate to be able to represent a diverse and brilliant team and this honour from the Royal Academy of Engineering is really recognition for all of them.”

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Fellowship of the Academy is seen as one of the highest national honours available to an engineer. Agreeing to promote its charitable aims is a condition of fellowship.

Chris Waldon added: “I am really humbled by this peer recognition. I have been fortunate to work with truly exceptional people and teams delivering exciting programmes that can make a difference.

“As we strive to deliver fusion energy to a world that needs it, joining the Royal Academy community represents a wonderful opportunity to widen the network of those involved so we can deliver ever better and faster.”

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