What did a forest sound like 165 million years ago? New research published in PNAS @pnas and featured in New York Times @nytimes has reconstructed the calls of nine species of cricket and katydid relatives from the Middle Jurassic, using 20 exceptionally preserved fossil wings from the Jiulongshan Formation in Inner Mongolia, China. The team combined phylogenetics, laser Doppler vibrometry, numerical simulation and machine learning to work out how these insects' wings would have vibrated, and what they would have sounded like. One species turned out to be calling in ultrasound, roughly 100 million years before bats appeared, which challenges the long-held assumption that bat predation drove insects into the ultrasonic range. Dr Emine Celiker, Lecturer in Engineering Mathematics and Computational Methods in our School of Engineering, is a co-author on the study and contributed to the computational modelling behind the reconstructions. It's a nice example of how mathematical and engineering methods can open up questions well outside their usual territory. Read the paper: doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2615107… Coverage in Science: science.org/content/article/… And in The New York Times: nytimes.com/2026/09/03/scien… #Research #Engineering #Palaeontology #Acoustics

Dr Adam Joesbury and Dr Ali Haghiri, from our school are at the Light Aircraft Association Rally today and this weekend, representing us in the STEM Zone of the exhibitor tent. Drop by to talk aerospace engineering, aircraft, and what it's like to study with us at Leicester — we'd love to meet you. #LAARally #LightAircraftAssociation #STEM #AerospaceEngineering #UniversityOfLeicester

Great to welcome colleagues from China Three Gorges University (@CTGU_China) to the University of Leicester today for a joint workshop on emerging engineering technologies. From intelligent power electronics and sustainable transportation to digital health and UAV control, the session sparked lively discussions, new ideas and opportunities for future collaboration. A rewarding afternoon strengthening academic links between Leicester and CTGU.

Congratulations to Bhumika Suresh, ourAerospace Engineering MSc student, who achieved second place at the Master's Project Showcase held at Space Park Leicester on 7 July. Bhumika presented her research on hybrid/solar-powered aircraft to academics, industry professionals and fellow students, receiving excellent feedback from the industry judges. Reflecting on the experience, Bhumika said: “Presenting my research on hybrid/solar-powered aircraft at the Master's Project Showcase was an incredibly rewarding experience and a fantastic opportunity to share my work with academics, industry professionals, and fellow students. The event was both inspiring and motivating, and receiving recognition for my project has been one of the proudest moments of my academic journey at the University of Leicester.” A fantastic achievement and well-deserved recognition. Congratulations again, Bhumika! #UniversityOfLeicester #SchoolOfEngineering #SpaceParkLeicester #Engineering #StudentSuccess #AerospaceEngineering #SustainableAviation

Our School of Engineering EDI BBQ on 9 June was a fantastic opportunity to bring colleagues together in a relaxed and friendly setting. It was great to see members of our academic, professional services, technical staff and PhD students enjoying good food, meaningful conversations and the chance to connect beyond the workplace. Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to making the event so welcoming and inclusive. A special thank you to Rebecca Mortley for all her support, effort and organisation in making the afternoon such a success — it was truly appreciated. 🌞🍔🌿 #LeicesterEngineering #UniversityOfLeicester #EDI #InclusiveCommunity #EngineeringCommunity

🚀 Congratulations to Innova UoL on a strong performance at the UK Lunabotics 2026 competition! The School of Engineering is proud to celebrate the achievements of our student team, who gained valuable experience and delivered an impressive performance at this year’s competition. The team achieved several outstanding milestones: ✅ First team to pass scrutineering ✅ Only team to successfully excavate during an official run ✅ Commended by NASA representatives for the rover’s excellent design ✅ Special recognition for the rover’s carbon fibre body The competition provided an excellent opportunity for our students to apply their engineering knowledge in a challenging, real-world environment, from mechanical design and manufacturing to testing, troubleshooting and project management. The team also identified important areas for further improvement. In particular, the temporary 3D-printed motor mounts used due to time constraints became a key failure point under load and transport conditions. The team is already working on replacing them with properly manufactured aluminium alloy mounts and aims to have the rover running again very soon. We are delighted that the rover will be showcased at our Open Day on 4 July, where prospective students will be able to see first-hand the creativity, technical capability and teamwork of our engineering students. A huge well done to Tiresimi Joseph Joseph, Chief Engineer of UK Lunabotics at Innova UoL, and the whole team for their hard work, commitment and resilience. We would also like to thank Dr Unal Yildirim and Dr Mohammed Azeem for their academic guidance and logistical support throughout the project, and we look forward to seeing the project continue to develop under the next Chief Engineer, Satvik Manocha. Well done to everyone involved — this is a fantastic example of student-led engineering innovation at Leicester. #UniversityOfLeicester #SchoolOfEngineering #Engineering #Lunabotics #UKLunabotics #NASA #StudentEngineering #Robotics #Rover #Innovation #MechanicalEngineering #AerospaceEngineering #EngineeringStudents #TeamLeicester

We were delighted to host 40 Executive MBA students from Peking University HSBC Business School, led by Mr BING HAN, for a visit to the University of Leicester and Space Park Leicester. The day began with a campus and School of Engineering tour led by Dr Bo Tian, followed by a warm welcome from Professor Leena Sodha, Deputy Head of the College of Science and Engineering, who shared insights into the University’s educational philosophy and portfolio. Dr Aldo Rona delivered an engaging lecture on the culture, history, and future of British aerospace engineering, offering valuable context and perspective for the visiting cohort. We were also pleased to be joined by colleagues from the Student Recruitment team, Robin Reeves and Tracy Ye LI, who met with Mr Han to explore opportunities for future collaboration between our institutions. In the afternoon, the group visited Space Park Leicester, where Vinay Patel, Alex Wheldon, and Josh Barker provided an insightful tour. Vinay highlighted the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem within the Park. Dr Himanshu Kaul then introduced digital twin theory and led a case study based on his biomedical engineering enterprise project, sparking lively discussion. The visit concluded with a formal dinner attended by Professor Ljiljana Marjanovic-Halburd, Head of the School of Engineering, at the historic Belvoir Castle—an ideal setting to experience British heritage and hospitality. A rewarding day of academic exchange, collaboration, and cultural engagement. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Peking University HSBC Business School and its UK campus. #UniversityOfLeicester #SpaceParkLeicester #PekingUniversity #ExecutiveMBA #GlobalPartnerships #HigherEducation #InternationalCollaboration #AerospaceEngineering #DigitalTwin #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #STEMEducation #UKChina #AcademicPartnerships

We are delighted to share that Dr Muhammad Zubair has been selected as the 2026 Young Professional of the Year Award recipient by the IEEE @IEEEorg Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S). This prestigious annual award recognises outstanding early-career researchers (under 40) for their contributions to electromagnetics research, leadership, and professional service. The formal announcement has just been released: ieeeaps.org/committees/2026-… The official award presentation will take place later this year at the IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation in Detroit, USA. #IEEE #Electromagnetics #AntennasAndPropagation #EngineeringResearch #ResearchExcellence #STEM #HigherEducation

On 9 March 2026, our Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) Program Year 2 students visited the Caterpillar @CaterpillarInc Desford as part of their EG2212 Electrical Machines and Drives curriculum, as well as for industry engagement and professional development. The visit was proactively organised and led by Dr Yang Xiao (Module Lead and Deputy Programme Director for EEE), joined by Dr David Siddle. We are very grateful to Toby Clark, Amy Rowan and the team at Caterpillar Desford for hosting an insightful and well-guided tour of their world-class manufacturing facilities. Students explored the full production and assembly pipeline of heavy construction machinery — gaining first-hand exposure to how cutting-edge engineering is translated into industrial-scale manufacturing. Caterpillar’s unique role in advancing earthmoving and building construction equipment directly underpins global infrastructure development. From innovations in modern manufacturing processes to the integration of complex electrical, mechanical, and control systems in modern heavy machinery, the facility exemplifies the bridge between academia, industry, and skills development for the next generation of engineers. A fantastic opportunity for our students to see engineering in action and connect their studies to real-world impact. 👏 Thank you again to Caterpillar Desford for such a valuable experience.

The upcoming Netflix @netflix documentary Dinosaurs, directed by Steven Spielberg, will use our colleague Dr Emine Celiker’s research as paleontological audio in the background. On a large collaborative study led by the University of Lincoln, Dr Celiker and the team studied katydid (bush-cricket) Jurassic fossils to recreate their mating calls, allowing an insight into the acoustic landscape of the Middle Jurassic. The reconstructed sounds will form part of the rich soundscape of the show, which is due to be released on 6th March 2026. youtube.com/watch?v=y4ZBSzYU… #Netflix #Dinosaurs #Paleontology #Bioacoustics #Jurassic #FossilResearch #ScienceCommunication #ResearchCollaboration

We are delighted to announce that the University of Leicester @uniofleicester School of Engineering and the University of Western Macedonia (@uowm) have been awarded just under €1 million by the Greek Ministry of Education and Sport to develop a new Transnational Education (TNE) MSc in Welding Engineering and Non-Destructive Testing. Our Head of School, Prof. Ljiljana Marjanovic-Halburd, Deputy Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, Prof. Leena Sodha, and Deputy Director of Education, Dr Reza Baserinia, attended the award ceremony in Kozani, Greece on 24 February 2026. Prof. Marjanovic-Halburd and Prof. Sodha outlined the strategic vision of the School and College, while Dr Baserinia presented the School’s current educational portfolio and future direction. This award forms part of the European Commission’s Greece Recovery and Resilience 2.0 programme, supporting high-impact international collaboration between leading institutions. The jointly delivered MSc will combine distance learning, practical training and summer schools, with credits aligned to both ECTS and UK frameworks to ensure international recognition. Academic teams from Leicester and UoWM will co-develop the curriculum and learning materials during the preparatory phase. We look forward to deepening our partnership and delivering a high-quality, internationally recognised programme in this strategically important field. #UniversityOfLeicester #SchoolOfEngineering #TransnationalEducation #WeldingEngineering #NonDestructiveTesting #InternationalCollaboration

This British Council–funded (£80k) UK–KSA project addresses antimicrobial resistance in medical devices by developing biosensing-enabled antimicrobial biomaterials capable of detecting early infection signals and delivering targeted, on-demand antimicrobial responses. Using electrospinning and flocking, the project integrates responsive drug delivery with miniaturised biosensors. Led by the University of Leicester with partners KFUPM and PMU, the 24-month collaboration will deliver integrated prototypes, joint publications, open-access datasets, and researcher training, supporting ISPF objectives and improved patient outcomes. #AntimicrobialResistance #Biomaterials #MedicalDevices #Biosensors #Electrospinning #DrugDelivery #Nanotechnology #SmartMaterials

It was great to see colleagues from across the School of Engineering come together for our Christmas Coffee and Mince Pies social. The event created a relaxed and welcoming space for academic, professional services, technical staff and PhD students to connect, chat and enjoy some festive treats. A big thank you to Rebecca Mortley from the EDI Committee for organising the event and to everyone who contributed baked goods and helped make it such an inclusive and enjoyable morning. 🎄☕️ #SchoolOfEngineering #AcademicCommunity #EDI #ColleagueEngagement #FestiveCelebrations

Today, the School held an all-staff meeting. The Head of School, Professor Ljiljana Marjanovic-Halburd, provided an update on the School’s financial sustainability and future outlook. Dr James Jewkes, Director of Education, shared key messages and priorities arising from the recent PVC (Education) meeting. We were also pleased to welcome colleagues from the University’s Student and Education Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (SEEDI) team, who introduced and promoted the Black Student Experience Programme, highlighting the University’s ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion in education.

Last night, we held a farewell drinks event to celebrate Prof. Hongbiao Dong's @DongHongbiao remarkable 21 years of dedicated service to the school. We are deeply grateful for his invaluable contributions and inspiring leadership throughout the years. It was a pleasure to have so many colleagues and long-time friends join us to bid him farewell and extend their best wishes for his new role. Wishing Prof. Hong all the best in his next chapter!

We are excited to share some highlights from the first hands-on use of the MyCobot280 robots by our Year 2 students on EG2213 Mechatronics, led by Dr. Victor Cedeno (Victor M. Cedeno-Campos PhD FHEA). Students from both General Engineering and Electrical & Electronic Engineering engaged enthusiastically with the robotic systems, gaining practical experience that will directly support their work in the Year 2 Integrated Engineering Design module (EG2006). The attached photos (and video) capture the excellent progress the students made during the class and the energy they brought to applying their robotics knowledge in practice. A great step forward in integrating advanced robotics into our undergraduate teaching. #EngineeringEducation #Robotics #Mechatronics #STEM #HigherEducation #HandsOnLearning #EngineeringStudents #UniversityOfLeicester #TeachingInnovation #RoboticsEducation

On 4 December 2025, our Year 3 General Engineering students visited the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (@UK_BIC ) as part of the EG3224 Sustainable Electrical Systems module. The visit was led academically by Dr Avinash Bhangaonkar (Module Leader) and organised by Dr Victor M. Cedeno (Programme Director), with students accompanied on the day by Dr Yuan Gao (Deputy Programme Director). We are very grateful to Simon Hill l and the UKBIC team for hosting an insightful and well-guided tour of their world-class facilities. Students explored the full battery development and manufacturing pipeline — gaining first-hand exposure to how cutting-edge research is translated into industrial-scale production. UKBIC’s unique role in advancing battery manufacturing, recycling, and energy-storage technologies directly underpins the UK’s transition to electrified transport and a Net Zero economy. From innovation in emerging technologies such as sodium-ion batteries to improvements in battery lifespan and charging performance, the centre exemplifies the bridge between academia, industry, and skills development for the growing battery supply chain. A fantastic opportunity for our students to see sustainable engineering in action and connect their studies to real-world impact. 👏 Thank you again to UKBIC for such a valuable experience. #UKBIC #EngineeringEducation #SustainableElectricalSystems #BatteryTechnology #NetZero #IndustryAcademia #StudentExperience #Electrification #FutureEngineering