UCL staff and students attend the inauguration of the ASHRAE UK Chapter at Loughborough University

This event also served as a significant milestone due to the reinstatement of the ASHRAE UCL Student Branch, symbolising a renewed commitment to advancing the field of building services.

The inauguration ceremony brought together a diverse range of professionals and researchers from the domain of the built environment, including UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering (IEDE) academics from the MSc in Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering (SBDE), Valentina Marincioni and Yi Zhang, IEDE doctoral researchers Reham Alasmar, Salam Al-Saegh, Guokai Chen, Cheng Cui and Alex Fung, along with the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction (BSSC) members Shen Wei, Kehan Ma and Meng Zhu.

ASHRAE, a professional association founded in 1894, holds global recognition for its efforts in advancing the fields of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, with a core focus on promoting a healthy and sustainable built environment. The establishment of regional Chapters, such as the newly formed ASHRAE UK Chapter, provides an invaluable platform for researchers and professionals from academia and the industry to come together, fostering collaboration and facilitating the exchange of knowledge. These Chapters play a pivotal role in driving advancements and disseminating best practices within the built environment sector. The launch event also marked the induction of several board and committee members of the ASHRAE UK Chapter, highlighting the commitment of individuals towards the organisation's objectives.

Dr Shen Wei took on the role of co-chair of Student Activities, while Alex Fung was appointed co-chair of Young Engineers in ASHRAE, demonstrating their dedication to supporting the growth and thriving of the chapter. Alongside the ASHRAE Chapters, the ASHRAE Student Branches play a crucial role in engaging and empowering student members who are passionate about building services. Serving as a platform for networking, professional development and knowledge exchange, these branches facilitate interaction between local ASHRAE Chapter members.

Through a wide range of activities, including workshops, seminars, industry tours and student competitions, these branches foster collaboration, enhance technical skills and promote sustainable practices within the built environment. One notable aspect of the ASHRAE UK Chapter launch event was the reinstatement of the ASHRAE UCL Student Branch. Originally established in 2020 by Yi Zhang and a group of MSc SBDE students, the branch's activities were temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The launch event served as a platform for the branch's revival, with Valentina Marincioni assuming the role of Student Branch Advisor in collaboration with Shen Wei as the Student Branch Mentor, and Cheng Cui appointed as the President of the branch. The launch event at Loughborough University not only celebrated the union of two prominent Chapters but marked a significant milestone for the ASHRAE UCL Student Branch: the collaboration between the two entities represents a synergistic partnership, working together to shape the future of the built environment. By creating invaluable opportunities for professionals, researchers and students to collaborate and address pressing challenges, this partnership is poised to make a lasting impact in the built environment sector.

Links

• Learn more about the Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering MSc.
• Learn more about ASHRAE.
• Learn more about the ASHRAE UK Chapter.
• Learn more abour the ASHRAE Student Chapter.

Image credit: Dimitris Tseno