2019 Higginson Lecture

	Title of The Talk
	“To the Spanner Born”
	Guest Speaker
	Professor Anthony Unsworth, BSc MSc PhD DEng FREng CEng FIMechE Emeritus Professor in the Department of Engineering at Durham University
	Event Sponsors:
	Institution of Engineering & Technology Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Abstract:

Tony summarised his research on applying the principles of engineering science to the human body particularly seeking to extend the life of artificial joints either by improving lubrication mechanisms or by introducing different materials with inherently low wear properties.

However the story begins in 1969 with a study of what causes cracking Joints. Tony’s grandmother always told him that it would cause arthritis but does it? You will experience how research was done before the introduction of the PC and see that even 50 years on, researchers are still trying to disprove his theory.

He then turned his attention to natural and artificial joints illustrating how different designs behave differently. In the 1960s when Tony began this research, recipients of artificial joints were content with pain relief and gentle activity but today we expect to lead a full and active life.

Speaker Bio

Tony Unsworth is now Emeritus Professor at Durham University having been Head of the School of Engineering for over 11 years, Dean of Science for 3 years, Deputy Head of the Science Faculty (Research) for 4 years and Director of the Centre for Biomedical Engineering for over 20 years.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, he has been President of the Engineering Professors’ Council, Vice-President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, a Trustee of the Engineering Council, a Trustee of Action Medical Research Charity and remains Editor in Chief of the Journal of Engineering in Medicine after 26 years.

He has won many awards for his research including The Tribology Silver Medal, Donald Julius Groen Prize for Tribology, James Clayton Prize, the James Alfred Ewing Gold Medal, The International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty (ISTA) Lifetime Achievement Award and Elected an Honorary Member of ISTA.

In 2018 he was awarded the Chancellor’s Medal.