A LEADING engineer will help to create an offshore technology research and teaching centre in his new role as visiting professor with UHI.
Angus Jamieson, an expert in oil technology services, will lead professional development courses for UHI.
Based in Inverness, he will bring a diverse range of research and teaching, including 3D visualisation software, marine survey techniques, offshore mechanical engineering and engineering mathematics.
He gives postgraduate professional development training to engineers around the world in the theory and practice of directional drilling and borehole surveying.
The proposed offshore technology research and teaching centre would use UHI and other facilities around the region.
Prof Jamieson sold his business, Tech21 Ltd, to global oil technology group Weatherford UK last year. The business specialised in marine surveying and directional drilling, and Prof Jamieson acts as a technical adviser for the worldwide company. He also chairs a key committee of the Survey Technical Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and trains drilling engineers for multi-national oil and gas corporations throughout the world.
Prof Jamieson, who lives in Inverness, said: “With the North Sea and Cromarty Firth on our doorstep, UHI is ideally placed as a training centre for the oil industry.
“My clients find the area very attractive and always enjoy coming here for training courses. I’m looking forward to this new challenge of working with UHI and creating a place for it in the oil and gas industry.
“I believe a university will be a huge asset to the region, attracting young people here for higher education rather than losing them to other areas when they leave school.”
UHI vice-principal for research and commercialisation Dr Jeff Howarth said: “This will be an exciting relationship for UHI. “Working with Angus will be a marvellous opportunity, and we are privileged indeed that he is very keen to help with the development of our prospective university.
“He is a professional of world standing who will contribute enormously to our academic and economic missions.”