Election to the NAE is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honours those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice, or education, including, significant contributions to the engineering literature and to the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing innovative approaches to engineering education.

The induction ceremony for the NAE class of 2011 will be held in October, during the NAE Annual Meeting in Washington DC.

Speaking about the fellowship, Professor Owen (pictured) said: “It is a great honour to be recognised by the premier professional academy of what is, unquestionably, the leading scientific and engineering research country in the world.”

Professor Ian Cluckie, Swansea University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Science and Engineering), said: “Roger Owen has brought great distinction to both the College and the University by the recognition extended by such an important international engineering academy.”

Professor Javier Bonet, Head of the College of Engineering, added: “Professor Owen is one of our most distinguished academics within the College of Engineering and I am absolutely delighted that he has been awarded a fellowship by the National Academy of Engineering.”

Professor Owen, who is a Professor in Civil Engineering and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, is an international authority on computational solid mechanics. He is the author of six textbooks and over 400 scientific publications and is editor of the International Journal for Engineering Computations.

Previously an undergraduate student at Swansea University, Professor Owen first developed his interest in computational methods under the influence of the late Professor. O. C. Zienkiewicz when he returned to the university to take up an academic post in the Department of Civil Engineering.

Over the past two decades his work has focused on the development of discrete element methods for particulate modelling and the simulation of multi-fracturing phenomena in materials. His contribution to research in this field has been widely acknowledged and he has received numerous awards and distinctions. In 2009 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.

For further information on the College of Engineering visit http://www.swansea.ac.uk/engineering/.

For further information on Professor Owen’s career and research visit his homepage http://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/academic/Engineering/owendavid/

This news item has been posted by Katy Drane, Swansea University Press Office, Tel: 01792 295050, email: k.drane@swansea.ac.uk