Five successful applicants in first NEST funding round

NEST, Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s Network to Engineer a Safer Tomorrow is an international, multidisciplinary network created for anyone who has been supported through our funding to undertake a qualification, apprenticeship or other training, along with recipients of Foundation scholarships and Fellowships.

NEST has its own grant schemes to help support former beneficiaries of the Foundation go on to continue making the world a safer place. We’re delighted to announce that 5 applicants from this first NEST funding round have been successful and will go on to have their activities and initiatives funded.

Congratulations to pioneering NEST members Nokhaiz Sabir, Eleftheria Kontou, Mohammed Bujair P, Kang Ren and Tobias Poultney on this fantastic achievement.

Their individual projects will help increase knowledge, create networks and advance NEST’s mission of making the world a safer place.

NEST member Nokhaiz Sabir is going to the 2021 International Hydrogen Conference, set to take place in Colorado in November 2021, with major sponsors including Air Liquide, Jeol, Blade Energy Partners and Pretech. This particular event will be helping Nokhaiz “keep updated on the current developments in this field and also use the knowledge to make decisions in my research”.

Eleftheria Kontou will be showcasing her research on electrified transportation systems at the January 2022 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting. During this showcase, Eleftheria will be demonstrating her rigorous analysis on network modeling and evacuation routing for alternative fuel vehicles, as well as policies for accelerated electric vehicle adoption. With NEST funding, she is able to access this key opportunity for “further research collaboration and networking with academics, professionals, and policymakers.”

NEST member Mohammed Bujair P is using the funding to support a multi-disciplinary certification of conventional non-destructive testing methods, provided by Lloyd’s Register Foundation partner TWI ltd. Mohammed says that “due to the pandemic, there are less job opportunities. Employers are required more skilled professionals, especially in inspection. This funding will therefore increase knowledge and allow career progression.”

Kang Ren applied for NEST funding to support their participation in a premium workshop on sea-ice modelling and its applications hosted by Isaac Newton Institute, University of Cambridge. “This is an excellent opportunity for me to disseminate my research results to outstanding scientists, establish new collaborations and develop better research plans.”

Tobias Poultney says that NEST funding will “allow me to undertake a series of courses which will enhance my skills as a traditional wooden boatbuilder.” The courses include Power Boat Handing Level 2, VHF Radio Certification, First Aid at Work qualification, Welding and an Approved Engine course – all of which will help Tobias fill gaps in his existing knowledge and make him a better and more well-rounded craftsman.

If you are also interested in getting support for your initiatives and you’re eligible to join NEST, all you need to do is sign up on the platform and submit your application for the next round in Q1 of 2022. In the meantime, use the platform to connect with other members of the NEST community and look for other opportunities for training, funding and collaboration.  Information on the next round of funding is due to be released shortly.