Deborah Greaves facts for kids

Deborah Mary Greaves, born in March 1967, is a British engineer. She is a Professor of Ocean Engineering and leads the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics at the University of Plymouth. In 2020, she became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Early Life and Education

Deborah Greaves studied civil engineering at the University of Bristol. She finished her first degree in 1988. After that, she started working as a civil engineer.

In 1992, Greaves went back to university. She studied at St Edmund Hall, Oxford for her advanced degree, called a doctorate. Her research looked at how to use computers to model how liquids flow. She finished her studies in 1998.

Career in Engineering

After getting her doctorate, Deborah Greaves became a lecturer. She taught mechanical engineering at University College London. In 2002, she moved to the University of Bath. There, she taught architecture and civil engineering.

She received a special award called a Royal Society University Research Fellowship. With this, she studied how wind affects different fabrics. Her goal was to help design new materials. These materials could be used to cover large open spaces.

Research at Plymouth University

In 2008, Greaves joined the University of Plymouth. She studies how to use energy from the ocean. This is called offshore renewable energy. She also creates computer models to understand how waves interact with structures.

At the University of Plymouth, she is the Head of the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics. She led a big project called SOWFIA. This project helped European countries develop "wave farms." Wave farms use the power of ocean waves to create electricity.

SOWFIA looked at different Wave Energy Converters. These are devices that turn wave energy into power. The project helped improve knowledge about large energy projects. It also created a list of places to test wave energy devices. They also shared information about the good and bad effects of using wave energy.

Greaves also leads another project called CCP-WSI. This project develops computer programs for "wave tanks." These programs help solve problems with how waves interact with structures.

Sustainable Energy Projects

Deborah Greaves is also in charge of the Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub. This hub researches different ways to get renewable energy. Supergen ORE is a big project that looks at future challenges for renewable energy. It also studies how the system that delivers offshore energy will change.

She also helped create the COAST laboratory at the University of Plymouth. COAST stands for Coastal, Ocean and Sediment Transport. This lab studies devices that use marine energy. It also looks at how these devices might affect the environment.

Helping the Engineering Community

Deborah Greaves is very active in the engineering world. She leads the Partnership for Research In Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE). She also directs the Supergen ORE Hub. She is part of the Carbon Trust Advisory Board.

She is a Fellow of the Women's Engineering Society. She is also a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. She works as an expert advisor for the United Nations. In 2014, she was nominated for an award from the WISE Campaign.

In 2018, Deborah Greaves received a special honor. She was awarded an OBE by the Queen. This award recognized her important work in marine engineering. It also honored her efforts to promote equality and higher education.

Publications and Boards

Deborah Greaves is on the editorial board for two important journals. These are Engineering and Computational Mechanics and the International Journal for Marine Energy.