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Unsung Hero of Medical Ultrasound joins Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame.

04 October 2014

Four famous Scots have been added to the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame, including Tom Brown, the engineering genius behind the development of Ultrasound for medical diagnosis.

Tom Brown was inducted at last night's James Watt dinner - held in Glasgow - alongside 3 other notable Scottish Engineers: John Rennie, a prolific civil engineer responsible for design of canals, aqueducts, bridges, harbours and dockyards; Reverend Dr Robert Stirling, engineer and inventor of the Stirling engine and Robert Napier, shipbuilder and engine designer also known as ""The Father of Clyde Shipbuilding".

Gordon Masterton, Chairman of Judges for the Hall of Fame, said;

"Ultrasound for improving the care of mothers and unborn children during pregnancy was pioneered in Scotland. The medical professionals involved became well known, quite rightly. But it wouldn't have happened without the genius of Tom Brown, then a young engineer with Kelvin & Hughes of Glasgow. He's an unsung engineering hero. Tom's election to the Hall of Fame gives him belated recognition of a great achievement."

These new inductees add to the phenomenal story of Scottish engineering's contribution to our civilisation and form part of the Hall of Fame, now nineteen members strong. Collectively, these members tell a story of 250 years of world-beating engineering innovation that has led to massive improvements in our quality of life and benefits to the economy of Scotland and the United Kingdom.

Sara Thiam, Director of ICE Scotland, said:

"John Rennie's prolific work on canals, aqueducts, bridges and dockyards across the UK including Waterloo, Southwark and London Bridges, Leith & London Docks and the amazing Bell Rock Lighthouse, mark him as one of the greatest engineers of his age and a worthy addition to this elite group. Recognising the outstanding engineers of the past helps us to inspire the engineers of today and encourage generations to come."

The Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame was launched in 2011 by The Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland (IESIS), and is supported by engineering institutions, museums and trade bodies in Scotland, including the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).

View 2014 Inductees

2013 Inductees Announced

05 October 2013

Four famous Scots have been added to the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame at the James Watt Dinner on Friday 4th October.

The Hall of Fame was launched in 2011 by IESIS, The Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland, and is endorsed by Scottish Engineering, the support group for the engineering industry in Scotland.

Gordon Masterton, Chairman of Judges for the Hall of Fame, said "These new inductees add to the phenomenal story of Scottish engineering's contribution to our civilisation. They demonstrate the special affinity that Scots have had for engineering and education, and they add diversity to the eleven already inducted. Hugh Gill's election demonstrates that this affinity is alive and well and engineers are continuing to apply their ingenuity to create wealth for Scotland and the UK."

The fifteen members of the Hall of Fame tell a story of 250 years of world-beating engineering innovation that has led to massive improvements in our quality of life and to the United Kingdom's economy.

Bryan Buchan, Chief Executive of Scottish Engineering, said, "We need engineers and engineering companies to continue their successful drive out of recession and to ensure that the Scottish and UK economies flourish. The Hall of Fame is an inspiration to young people who can study role models from the present and the past. I hope that it will encourage them to see engineering as a highly creative and rewarding career."

The four new inductees are:
William John MacQuorn Rankine (1820-1872), engineer, polymath, educator, and pioneer of thermodynamics:
Sir William Arrol (1839-1913), engineering entrepreneur, steel bridge builder, designer and manufacturer of cranes, heavy machinery and automobiles, innovator in construction methods:
Sir Robert Alexander Watson-Watt (1892-1973), engineer, inventor and pioneer of RADAR:
Hugh Gill (b. 1958) engineer who developed the multi-articulating bionic hand for Touch Bionics.

View the 2013 Inductees

2012 Inductees Announced

29 September 2012

The latest members to be added to the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame were announced at the James Watt Dinner on Friday September 28.

Four famous Scots engineers were added to the list which was launched last year by The Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland. Their names and achievements will be etched for posterity on the metal "Wall of Fame" housed at the headquarters of Scottish Engineering, the support group for the engineering industry in Scotland.

Gordon Masterton, chairman of judges for the Hall of Fame, said "These new inductees add to the phenomenal story of Scottish engineering's contribution to our civilisation. They add diversity to the seven already inducted, and bring the Hall of Fame bang up to date with an example of cutting edge engineering innovation that has led to new enterprises and wealth creation for Scotland and the UK."

The eleven members of the Hall of Fame now span 250 years of excellence in engineering innovation that has led to significant improvements in our quality of life and to the United Kingdom's economic success.

Peter Hughes, Chief Executive of Scottish Engineering, said, "We need to enthuse young people including those in our primary schools - and let them know how exciting and important engineering is as a career, by showing them what previous generations of engineers have achieved and added to our lives is an important part of this process.

"I see the Hall of Fame as an inspiration to young people and hope that it will encourage them to look at so many things they use on a daily basis and recognise that most of them were created by engineers."

The four new inductees are:
John Elder (1824-1869), marine engineer and shipbuilder, who developed practical compounding marine engines and conceived the modern integrated shipbuilding yard at the Fairfield works, Govan;
James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879), physicist, whose work forms the foundation of modern electrical engineering;
Dorothée Aurélie Marianne Pullinger (1894-1986), automobile engineer and pioneering businesswoman;
Douglas Anderson (b. 1951) product design engineer, inventor of improved retinal scanning and founder of Optos plc.

View 2012 Inductees

Hall of Fame to be housed at Kelvingrove Museum.

01 September 2012

IESIS and Glasgow Life have agreed to collaborate to develop plans for establishing a Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame at Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery. Glasgow Museums' Research and Curatorial Manager, Martin Bellamy, said "The Hall of Fame will build on Kelvingrove's strong tradition of fostering a greater understanding of our engineering heritage and inspiring young people to get involved in engineering. IESIS President Gordon Masterton said "This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Scottish engineering talent - past and present - and to encourage and inspire engineers for the future."

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