Professor Andrew Bell becomes a Fellow of the IEEE

Professor Andrew Bell has been awarded the status of Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) “for contributions to piezoelectric science and engineering".

Professor Andrew Bell’s extensive work in materials science is being recognised with the award of IEEE Fellow membership – the organisation’s highest membership grade – from January 2020, “for contributions to piezoelectric science and engineering resulting in novel high temperature ultrasound transducers”.

The Professor from the School of Chemical and Process Engineering has been involved with the IEEE for more than 20 years and was previously a Senior Member of the organisation.

Professor Bell said: “It’s a real honour to be elevated to the status of Fellow of the IEEE, an institution with which I have been involved for over 20 years. However, I feel that the award is really recognition for all the team that were involved in the original research and commercialization of our high temperature piezoelectrics.”

The position of IEEE Fellow is a prestigious honour amongst the technical community, reserved for a select number of scientists who have an outstanding record of accomplishments within the IEEE’s fields of study. Fellow membership is by nomination only, then ultimately decided by the IEEE’s Board of Directors, with a strict limit on numbers.

It’s a real honour to be elevated to the status of Fellow of the IEEE, an institution with which I have been involved for over 20 years. 

Professor Andrew Bell

Innovation in materials science

Since joining the University of Leeds in April 2000, Professor Andrew Bell has held a number of academic positions including Professor of Electronic Materials, Pro-Dean for Research for the Faculty of Engineering and Head of the School of Chemical and Process Engineering.

Among his many research achievements, Professor Bell was behind the development of bismuth ferrite based ceramics as high temperature piezoelectric materials. This research was driven by the need for piezoelectric components which can operate at extreme temperatures – as high as 450°C – so they can be used within commercial aero-engines.

This research also led to a successful company called Ionix Advanced Technologies, founded in 2011. The company produces high-temperature ultrasound transducers, with Professor Bell as Chief Scientific Officer. Speaking of the company, Professor Bell said: Their products are real game changers in monitoring of corrosion and crack growth in high temperature plant.”

I feel that the award is really recognition for all the team that were involved in the original research and commercialization of our high temperature piezoelectrics.

Professor Andrew Bell

Progressing technology worldwide

The IEEE is the world’s leading organisation dedicated to advancing technology. Consisting of more than 423,000 members across 160 countries, it delivers innovation and standardisation worldwide across industries that include consumer electronics, computers, aerospace, telecommunications, biomedical engineering and more.

The IEEE has developed more than 1300 industry standards, including many of the electronic systems that you use every day. It also contributes to approximately 30% of the world’s literature in the electrical and electronics engineering and computer science fields.