Professor Richard Bucknall named Head of Department, UCL Mechanical Engineering

Professor Richard Bucknall has been officially appointed as UCL Mechanical Engineering's Head of Department (HoD) and Kennedy Chair of Mechanical Engineering, following the departure of Professor Yiannis Ventikos who led the department for the previous nine years.

Before formally assuming the HoD position, Professor Bucknall took on the Interim HoD role at UCL Mechanical Engineering, while continuing to be Vice Dean (Research) for the faculty, alongside his role as programme director for two postgraduate programmes taught in the department, Marine Engineering MSc and Power Systems Engineering MSc.

The Professor of Marine Systems, who holds a Doctorate from Royal Naval Engineering College, has stepped down from these roles to focus on leading the department for at least the next five years. 

Delighted to be appointed as the Head of the Department and the Kennedy Chair of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Bucknall said, "The opportunity to lead such a vibrant, dedicated and brilliant cohort of staff and students is a real thrill, yet most important for me was the depth of support I received from colleagues on my appointment – thank you!"  

"I look forward to us working closely together to tackle education, research and outreach challenges we know we have in the department, in challenging and changing times, building on Yiannis' (Professor Ventikos') legacy. As I said, when elected as interim HoD, my commitment to you is that I will do all I can to make the Department of Mechanical Engineering steer a positive course during my tenure to benefit all those who study and work in our department.” 

Commenting on Professor Bucknall's appointment, Professor Nigel Titchener-Hooker, Executive Dean, UCL Engineering said,

"Mechanical Engineering at UCL boasts an unbroken record of achievements that can be traced way back to the foundations of Engineering at our global institution. Being selected as the Head of Department and Kennedy chair is both a considerable challenge for any individual as well as a huge achievement. It is against this backdrop that I congratulate Professor Richard Bucknall in securing this role and prestigious title."