ECS Professor Paul Lewin named IEEE Fellow

Professor Paul Lewin of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) at the University of Southampton has been honoured for his contributions to high voltage cable engineering by being named a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).

Paul joins an elite group of engineers and researchers from around the world who are recognized by the IEEE for their outstanding contributions for the benefit of humanity and the profession within one or more of a wide variety of areas that include aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications, biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics.

Elevation to Fellowship of the IEEE follows a rigorous evaluation procedure. The IEEE has more than 400,000 members in 160 countries and after a rigorous evaluation procedure Paul is one of just 298 new Fellows for 2013.

Paul has been at the University of Southampton since 1989. He was awarded a Chair in 2010 and is now Professor of Electrical Power Engineering. Since 2002 he has been head of the Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory that is recognised internationally as a centre of excellence for its research into high voltage phenomena, dielectric materials and condition monitoring.

His research interests and contributions in the general area of high voltage cable engineering focus on condition monitoring techniques for high voltage polymeric cables, methods for rating transmission cables, future cable insulation systems and measurement techniques for the study of dielectric phenomena.

He has contributed to international standards and his work has been of benefit to the electrical transmission and distribution industry that has continually funded his research.

In 2007 Paul was asked to chair IEEE International Conference on Solid Dielectrics, in Winchester. He is currently an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions: Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, has agreed to chair a large international conference in Seattle, USA in 2015, and been elected Vice-President (Technical Activities) of the IEEE’s Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society for 2013. He is also the UK representative on several European and international working groups concerned with standards for electrical measurements.

Paul said: “This is a great honour but is not just down to me. We have built a fantastic multidisciplinary research team within the Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory with world-class resources and have attracted a lot of industrial support to fund our activities. I have been fortunate to work with many distinguished colleagues from around the world, as well as at Southampton, and have been supported by excellent research staff and students.”

Professor Neil White, Head of Electronics and Computer Science, said: “Not only is this a notable individual recognition of the research contributions of one of our professors, but it is an excellent endorsement of the strength of our research and its international reputation in the area of high voltage engineering.”