Dr Gareth Neighbour

BSc, PhD, MInstP, MIMMM, CPhys, CEng, FHEA

Head of Department
Reader

Education and Qualifications

Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (2007)
BTEC NVQ Level 4 in Management (1994-1996)
Certificate in Management Information for Financial Decisions (1995)
Certificate in Quality Assurance Management Systems Assessment, specifically BS EN ISO 9001 (a requirement for Lead Assessor Status) (1993)
School of Materials Science, University of Bath (1989 - 1992). Ph.D. in Materials Science. Microstructural Processes Leading to Fracture in Nuclear Graphites
Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University) (1986 - 1989) B.Sc. (Hons) in the Physical Sciences

Experience

Reader and Head of Department, Oxford Brookes University (Jun 2011 - Present)
Deputy Dean of Science (from May 2009) & Senior Lecturer in Engineering, University of Hull (Aug 2005 – Jun 2011)
Lecturer in Engineering, University of Hull (Feb 2001 - Jul 2005)
Research Fellow (Grade II), University of Bath (June 1998 - Jan 2001)
Associate Lecturer - Systems (P/T) (+Summer School Tutor), Open University (Jan 1997 - Dec 1999)
Research Officer (1A), University of Bath (Jan 1996 - May 1998)
Professional and Management Grade 3 Officer, FPG, AEA Technology (UKAEA), Windscale (roles included PIE on AGR fuel elements, safety cases, QA and Training Manager) (Nov 1992 - Jan 1996)
Demonstrator (P/T), University of Bath (Dec 1989 - Dec 1991)
Assistant Resident Tutor / Resident Tutor (P/T), University of Bath (Nov 1989 - Nov 1992)

Research Interests

Dr Gareth Neighbour joined the Department in June 2011 from the University of Hull where he had formed the Materials and Process Performance Group. Before Hull, he led the internationally recognised Bath Nuclear Materials Group. Over his research career, he has provided independent research and advice to the nuclear and other heavy industries including the regulator and also the IAEA in Vienna. Research income to date is ~£2 million. Prior to his academic career, during 1992-1996, Gareth worked for AEA Technology at their Windscale plant where, amongst other things, he managed the integration of project, safety, QA and engineering management systems.

A significant proportion of Gareth's research is interdisciplinary in nature. His interest ranges from integrated management systems to fracture mechanics and fundamental structure-property relationships of engineering materials. At present, the main thrust is the effectiveness of UK gas-cooled nuclear reactor core designs, particularly materials performance and the functionality of core components to support life extension using various modelling and analytical techniques. Coupled with this is his interest in policy formulation using a systems approach for radioactive (& other waste) materials treatment related to design theory, waste minimisation and decommissioning. In particular, the effect of risk assessment methodology has on environmental and societal decision-making.

Other research interests include nuclear energy and graphite technology in general, post irradiation evaluation of nuclear materials (inc. fuels), carbon deposition, mechanical properties of porous materials, redundancy in design, design and analysis of innovative wire/rod networks, project management, management systems, risk, BPEO and HAZOP studies and various consultancy to the nuclear and manufacturing industries. Gareth has collaborated with a range of national and international organisations including Bath, Manchester, Lithuanian Energy Institute, University of Le Havre in France, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), Sasol (South Africa), HSE, NII, DTI, EPSRC, EU, British Energy, IAEA and many others.

Membership of Institutions

FHEA - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
CEng MIMMM - Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (Elected May 1997 - previously associate member from 1989)
CPhys MInstP - Chartered Physicist and Member of the Institute of Physics (Elected Oct 1995 - previously associate member from 1989)

Professional Activities

Member of EDF Energy's Graphite Core Committee (April 2003 - Present) and Chairman (2010 - Present)
Member of the British Carbon Group Executive Committee (Sept 2001- Present) - A joint body of the RSC, IOP and SCI and Chairman (2007 - Present)
Member of the Organising Committee for the EDF Series of Graphite Conferences (& Editor in Chief of Conference Proceedings), November 2005, November 2009 and November 2011
Member of the International Scientific Advisory Committee for various including conferences including International Carbon Conferences (including Carbon 2012)
Member of the Organising Committee for the International Conference on Carbon (Aberdeen, July 2006). Also Vice-Chair of the Programme Committee
Organising Chairman - Universities Nuclear Technology Forum, April 2000, Bath
Member of the Programme Committee - The European Carbon Conference "Carbon 96", Newcastle, UK

Research Support Gained

Approximately £2 million from the Research Councils, Government Organisations and Industry.

Selected Publications

Gareth has 64 open literature publications in addition to a significant number of classified reports published by the nuclear industry organisations. Over the last few years, Gareth has also prepared over 50 reports for external organisations on a contractual basis covering a diverse range of subjects from review of management systems to modelling dimensional change in irradiated moderator graphites.

Other Responsibilities and Teaching

External Examiner (UG, PGT and PhD) at various universities. Teaching interests include product innovation & (eco-) design, work-based learning, environmental & lifecycle engineering, independent studies, industrial and production management, materials science & technology, systems thinking, business and finance, simulation & modelling techniques, and nuclear technology.