Sarah Spurgeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Spurgeon
OBE FREng
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|
|---|---|
| Born |
Sarah Katherine Mudge
December 4, 1963 |
| Education | Ounsdale High School |
| Alma mater | University of York (BSc, DPhil) |
| Known for | Control Engineering |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Electrical engineering Sliding mode controls |
| Institutions | University College London University of Kent Loughborough University University of Leicester |
| Thesis | An assessment of robustness of flight control systems based on variable structure techniques (2003) |
Sarah Katherine Spurgeon is a very important engineer. She is currently the leader of the Electronic and Electrical Engineering Department at University College London. She also used to be the President of the Engineering Professors' Council from 2017 to 2019. Before that, she led engineering departments at the University of Leicester and the University of Kent.
Contents
Early Life and School
Sarah Spurgeon was born in a city called Wolverhampton in 1963. Her parents are Michael and Sheila Mudge. She went to Ounsdale High School. After high school, she studied math at the University of York. She earned her first degree in 1985 and then a higher degree, called a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil), in engineering in 1988.
What She Does
After finishing her studies, Sarah Spurgeon first worked as a teacher at Loughborough University. Then, in 1991, she moved to the University of Leicester.
Control Engineering
Sarah Spurgeon is a control engineer. This means she works on making different systems work as well as possible. She helps improve things like airplanes, cars, robots, and even healthcare equipment.
Her special work in control engineering includes something called sliding mode control. This is a way to design systems that can handle unexpected changes or problems. For example, if an airplane's controls need to work perfectly even when there's wind, her methods help make sure they do.
Helping Other Engineers
Sarah Spurgeon has held many important jobs in the world of engineering.
- In 2006, she became the Head of the Engineering Department at the University of Leicester.
- In 2008, she moved to the University of Kent to lead their School of Engineering and Digital Arts.
- She was chosen as a special lecturer for the Controlled Systems Society in 2011.
- From 2014 to 2017, she was a Vice Chair for the International Federation of Automatic Control.
- In 2015, she became the President of the Institute of Measurement and Control.
- In 2016, she joined University College London as the Head of Electronic and Electrical Engineering.
- She is also the President of the Engineering Professors' Council.
- She helps decide on international exchange programs for the Royal Society.
- Since 2019, she has been on the boards of EngineeringUK and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
- She also advises the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
- Sarah Spurgeon has worked to encourage more women to become engineers.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Sarah Spurgeon has received many awards for her important work:
- 2000: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Millennium Medal
- 2004: Became a Fellow of the Institute of Measurement and Control
- 2008: Became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng)
- 2010: Institute of Measurement and Control Honeywell International Medal
- 2015: Chosen to be the President-Elect of the Engineering Professors' Council
- 2015: Awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- 2019: Became a Fellow of IEEE
Her Family
Sarah Spurgeon is married to Christopher Thomas Spurgeon. They have three children together.
