Tong Sun facts for kids

Tong Sun OBE FREng FIET (born 1968) is a brilliant engineer and scientist. She works at City, University of London, where she leads the Research Centre for Photonics and Instrumentation. This center focuses on light and how it can be used in technology. Professor Sun has won many important awards for her work. These include the Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal in 2016. She also received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2018. In 2020, she became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Early Life and Education

Tong Sun was born in Southern China in 1968. When she started primary school, the education system in China was getting back to normal. She decided to study engineering at the Harbin Institute of Technology. There, she worked in the Department of Precision Instrumentation. She earned her master's degree in 1993 and her doctorate (PhD) in 1998.

During her university holidays, it took her 34 hours to travel back home to her parents. After her studies in China, she moved to London. She attended City, University of London for another doctorate. Here, she studied optical fibres, which are tiny strands of glass used to carry light. She finished this degree in 1999.

Research and Career

After getting her second doctorate, Professor Sun worked as an Assistant Professor. This was at Nanyang Technological University until 2001. She then returned to City, University of London in 2001. In 2008, she became a full Professor. She was the first woman to become a Professor of engineering at City, University of London. She also leads the Research Centre for Photonics and Instrumentation.

Developing Smart Sensors

Professor Sun's research focuses on creating special sensors. These sensors use optical fibres. They can monitor sensitive equipment in very difficult places. Her work has helped many different technologies. For example, her sensors can help detect drugs. They can also monitor corrosion, which is like rust, and fight food spoilage.

She has worked with important groups like the Home Office and Smiths Group. In 2007, Professor Sun helped start a company called Sengenia Ltd. This company uses fibre sensing technology. She has also made humidity sensors that work in tough places. These include acidic sewers in Sydney, Australia, and rice storage areas in China.

Professor Sun continues to work with researchers in China. They are looking at how to use optical fibres in the mining industry. In 2017, she won an award to test her sensors in Sydney Water. This project helped monitor water systems. She is also working with AECOM and Indian Institutes of Technology. Their goal is to make cities in India more sustainable. This project was very successful.

Improving Train Technology

Professor Sun designed a special sensor system for trains. This system measures strain and temperature in pantographs. Pantographs are the parts on top of electric trains that connect to overhead power cables. They are very important for trains to work. Regular checks can sometimes miss problems.

The optical sensors Professor Sun developed can watch pantograph behavior all the time. This happens even while the train is moving. A company called Brecknell Willis is now developing these smart pantographs.

In 2018, Professor Sun received a special award from the Royal Academy of Engineering. This award helped her work with Brecknell Willis on new railway systems. She is working on systems that power trains without touching them. These systems use optical fibre sensors for continuous monitoring in all weather.

The first pantographs with her sensors started trials in 2019. They included Global Positioning System (GPS) and video equipment. In 2019, her team received more funding for their work. Professor Sun was also nominated for a top award for supervising research students.

Awards and Recognition

Professor Tong Sun has received many important awards and honors:

• 2008: She was elected a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
• 2016: She received the Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal.
• 2018: She was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to engineering.
• 2020: She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.