New Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research at Coventry University

Coventry University has appointed a new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) for Research to oversee and develop its research programmes and activity.

Professor Kevin Warwick DSc. CEng. FIET FCGI, is currently the Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading.  He will take up his new post at Coventry on April 1st 2014.

Professor Warwick joins at a time when the University is developing its research activities following its recent submission to the Research Excellence Framework (REF).  His appointment follows the University being awarded Modern University of the Year by The Times and The Sunday Times and entering the world rankings of top universities for the first time.

Coventry University is known for delivering research that makes a significant contribution to a number of global challenges, such as community cohesion, peace and reconciliation, and sustainability issues. The appointment of Professor Warwick will build on these successes, strengthening the University’s position as an innovative institution applying fresh and original approaches to key research challenges.

Professor Warwick said:

I am delighted to be joining Coventry University at time when it is strengthening its research portfolio and I am looking forward to contributing to its new direction by continuing to grow its research capability.

 

John Latham, acting Vice-Chancellor at Coventry University said:

I would like to congratulate Kevin on his appointment as DVC Research. Kevin has great experience in the sector having had previous responsibility for running a university faculty, as well as being an outstanding researcher in artificial intelligence and robotics. We anticipate that our research portfolio will continue to strengthen and deliver new solutions under Kevin’s leadership.

For further press information, please contact Mark Farnan, external press and media relations officer, Coventry University, on +44 (0)24 7765 8245 or email mark.farnan@coventry.ac.uk.


Further Information
Professor Kevin Warwick DSc. CEng. FIET FCGI is currently Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading.  He holds a BSc. (Hons.) in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Aston University, a Ph.D. from Imperial College London and DScs from Imperial College and the Czech Academy of Sciences as well as six honorary doctorates including one from Coventry University.

Kevin began his academic career at Imperial College followed by positions at Newcastle, Oxford and Warwick Universities before being appointed to the Chair at Reading where he has performed both Head of Department and Head of School duties.

Kevin has published around 600 papers in research areas such as artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, robotics and control systems. His experiments into implant technology led to him being featured as the cover story on the US magazine Wired. He was presented with The Future of Health Technology Award in MIT, was made an Honorary Member of the Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, received the IEE Senior Achievement Medal, in 2008 the IET Mountbatten Medal and in 2011 the Ellison-Cliffe Medal from the Royal Society of Medicine. In 2000 Kevin presented the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures.

His research involves an intelligent deep brain stimulator to counteract the effects of Parkinson Disease tremors. Another project involves the use of cultured/biological neural networks to drive robots around – the brain of each robot is made of neural tissue. Kevin is best known for his pioneering experiments involving a neuro-surgical implantation into the median nerves of his own left arm to link his nervous system directly to a computer to assess the latest technology for use with the disabled. He was successful with the first extra-sensory (ultrasonic) input for a human and with the first purely electronic telegraphic communication experiment between the nervous systems of two humans.

With considerable previous experience of preparing RAE and REF submissions, Kevin was a member of the Panel for Electrical and Electronic Engineering in both the 2001 and 2008 exercises.