Dr Tony Trapp
Dr Tony Trapp MBE FREng, who began his academic career as an Agricultural Engineering undergraduate at Newcastle University in the 1960s, has pledged £520,000 to PhD students finding innovative ways of achieving net zero globally through their research.
Finding innovative solutions to achieving net zero
Dr Trapp's donation will fund eight PhD studentships at the School of Science, Agriculture and Engineering over the next 12 years. The first studentship was awarded in September 2022.
Dr Trapp started his academic career at Newcastle University as an undergraduate Agricultural Engineering student in the late 1960s. He went on to complete a PhD with the University's School of Engineering, before using his expertise to pioneer technology which is now vital to the offshore energy industry and the running of the offshore wind farms.
During his career, Dr Trapp built and led three hugely successful offshore engineering companies in the North East of England and was awarded MBE for services to the engineering and energy industries in 2017. He was also made an Honorary Doctor of Engineering at Newcastle University that year.
"I have always been impressed with the huge potential within engineers to create solutions to the challenges that we all face. For this potential to be realised students must encounter inspired leadership and engineering excellence. Newcastle University is a great place for these PhD students to achieve this success.”
Dr Tony Trapp MBE FREng, Alumnus and donor
Making a difference
Freddie, a recipient of the Tony Trapp PhD Studentship, said:
"I had to really think about whether I went straight into a job or continued studying for a PhD. To do a PhD I really needed the funding, there was no way I could self-fund. Receiving the Tony Trapp PhD Studentship was a massive opportunity and enabled me to pursue a PhD when I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do so.
"It covers my living expenses and tuition fees, and as part of that I have a fund where I can use money for equipment or travel, which is great as the conferences are another big part of being a PhD student. Being able to do that definitely makes it a bit more fun and leads to those real-world experiences.
"Personally, I’m very grateful for the opportunity to do something I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do and the work I’m doing is something I really enjoy."
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