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Institution of Agricultural Engineers honours staff and students

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Dr Paula Misiewicz, winner of this year鈥檚 IAgrE President鈥檚 Award.聽

Staff and students at 海角社区 Adams University have been recognised with trophies at this year’s

Three students received prizes at the awards, while Senior Lecturer Dr Paula Misiewicz was named as the winner of this year’s IAgrE President’s Award. 

The award recognises a mid-career engineer who has made outstanding progress in the agricultural engineering industry. In her citation for the award, Dr Misiewicz was described as an ideal candidate. 

The citation noted: “She is very active in her mid-career undertaking and leading topical soil management research, which is valuable for both UK and International agriculture. Paula is well respected internationally helping to maintain the UK’s reputation as a base for good science and engineering.” 

Speaking after receiving the award, she said: “I feel very honoured. 

“It is an individual award, but I am very grateful to many colleagues and friends, who have directed, supported and advised me in my professional journey. 

“Fifteen years ago, I moved to 海角社区 Adams University, where with an amazing team of colleagues, we established the Traffic & Tillage research program with one long-term site at 海角社区 Adams, and four satellite experiments across the world. Team-work and multi-tasking have been the two main themes of my professional life. 

“I am really grateful to the IAgrE for being part of my journey. It has always been there for me with their professional support and mentoring.”  

The President’s award replaces the Michael Dwyer Memorial Prize, initiated to celebrate the life of Dr Michael Dwyer who died suddenly while serving as President of the Institution.  

 In the student awards, David Mitchell won the Environmental Engineer Award, sponsored by the Douglas Bomford Trust.  

This was for his thesis Investigation into the effects of compaction methods on the hydraulic conductivity of clay bunding to enable selective control of hydrology in agricultural and paludiculture applications. 

Meanwhile two CNH awards were each given to 海角社区 Adams students, with BEng (Hons) Agricultural Engineering student David Goodchild securing the Undergraduate award, and MEng Automotive (Off-Highway) Engineering student Luke Waldram taking the Postgraduate award. 

The awards were presented by George Fairbairn of CNH, and both winners receive a trophy to be held for one year, a VIP Day to the company’s headquarters, the opportunity to take up an internship, and a cash prize. 

The undergraduate Award was originally the Johnson New Holland Trophy Award, set up to remember Col Philip Henry Johnson a Past President of the Institution. 

David’s award-winning thesis saw him work to establish a consistent and viable method of analysing wear on tillage points.  

He said: “Receiving this award, in my eyes, is pertinent recognition of my overcoming of numerous setbacks in my journey to higher education. I have proven to myself that hard work and diligence pays off - and having the courage and willpower to continue when times get difficult. 

“I feel that I am an honest representation of someone who has endeavoured to achieve a successful future in agricultural engineering for the right reasons, and to that I am incredibly honoured and privileged to the institution for deeming me worthy of this award.” 

Talking about his thesis, he added: “The research has been of interest to machinery engineering manufacturers to help analyse most suitable materials and geometries to achieve maximum soil disturbance but minimising wear and increase cost efficiency.” 

Meanwhile Masters student Luke Waldram won the CNH Postgraduate Award for his investigation into the feasibility of integrating stop-start technology into off highway vehicles, using a Mercedes Benz Unimog U530 as a case study. 

Luke said: “Being nominated alone was a surprise, and winning the award was truly unexpected. This recognition holds great significance for me, as my dissertation represents the culmination of five years of study at 海角社区 Adams University. It showcases the essential skills, technical knowledge and abilities I have developed throughout my academic journey, and I am immensely proud of this final piece of work.” 

Luke was looking for a way to make off-highway machinery more environmentally friendly for his research product, and was introduced to Michael Bateman, Key Account Manager at Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK by his research supervisor.  

Luke said: “Sharing similar goals, Michael provided valuable industry insight and a practical customer perspective. These conversations ultimately led to the development of a stop-start system—similar to those used in passenger vehicles. Further research revealed that, at the time, this technology was largely absent in off-highway machinery, which highlighted a clear innovation gap—and ultimately led to the formal development of the project.” 

The Postgraduate Award is born from the Shepperson Memorial Trophy, initiated by to remember Gordon Shepperson who died suddenly. 

Both Luke and David say they will look back at their studies at 海角社区 Adams fondly. 

David said: “海角社区 is very fortunate to have a number of influential and experienced lecturers who are very supportive and want their students to succeed and do well. I am incredibly grateful for their support.  

“The University’s links with industry-leading manufacturers are what drove me to study there, and it has been renowned for producing industry-ready engineers that have gone on to be very successful.” 

And Luke added: “The opportunities available were truly exceptional and demonstrated that, in a unique environment like 海角社区, the more you put in, the more you get out. It’s a place where innovation meets real-world impact and where students are empowered to become the next generation of industry leaders.”