Materials Processing Institute

Susan Ojo has been praised by the Materials Processing Institute following her highly successful Year in Industry placement in which she contributed to a project involving the world’s first zero-emissions cement.

Joining the Institute’s Sustainable Industry Group, her work was instrumental in supporting projects focused on the circular economy, advanced materials and industrial decarbonisation.

One of her main roles involved preparing, analysing and reporting on samples in the Advanced Materials Characterisation Centre in support of the groundbreaking Cement 2 Zero project.

As part of the research team, the 19-year-old took part in regular project technical meetings and small and mid-scale melting trials at the Institute’s steelmaking pilot plant generating novel cements.

The £6.5m UKRI-funded initiative is being led by the Institute in partnership with the University of Cambridge and in collaboration with Atkins, Balfour Beatty, CELSA Steel, Day Aggregates and Tarmac. It aims to scale-up the process that uses end of life cement as electric arc furnace flux, while capturing the slag for use in the cement industry.

The Year in Industry programme, organised through the Engineering Development Trust, gives talented students like Susan a unique opportunity to work side-by-side leading researchers.

Mark Allan, Group Manager – Sustainable Industry at the Materials Processing Institute, said: “Susan is a fast learner and quickly became an indispensable part of the team. The experience she gained will undoubtedly benefit her academic career and highlights the success of the Year in Industry programme as it fosters the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

Susan, who starts a Chemical Engineering degree at Loughborough University in September, added: “I’ve gained extensive practical knowledge of various processes and materials which has greatly expanded my understanding, particularly in the cement industry. Throughout this placement, I have received amazing support and guidance, with the team demonstrating a genuine commitment to my success.”

During her time at the Teesside-based Institute, she used her analytical skills to collate site-wide energy data in support of solar energy plans and also took part in IOM3’s young person's lecture competition.

Applications for the Year in Industry programme are considered from pre-university students, undergraduates or apprentices currently studying a STEM related subject. For further information or to register an interest, email melissa.bevington@mpiuk.com.

ISSSUED ON BEHALF OF MATERIALS PROCESSING INSTITUTE

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Douglas 01325 363 436

Photo caption: Susan Ojo (centre), with colleagues from Materials Processing Institute Sustainable Industry Group

Notes to editors:

Materials Processing Institute

The Materials Processing Institute is a research and innovation centre serving global steel and materials organisations that work in advanced materials, industrial decarbonisation, the circular economy, and digital technologies.

The Institute has served as the UK’s national steel innovation centre since 1944 having been set up by Sir Winston Churchill’s wartime government just before D-Day to equip the British steel industry for post-war reconstruction. It will celebrate its 80^th anniversary in 2024.

Through collaboration with its customers, the Institute provides a range of technology and R&D based services and consultancy. It also has pilot and demonstration facilities and an SME Technology Centre to support supply chain businesses with the development of new technologies and products.

Works with: steel, metals and alloys, chemical processes, aerospace and defence, energy, mining and quarrying, construction, rail, transport, and infrastructure, offshore, subsea, and nuclear.

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