Laurent Dala
Senior lecturer in aerodynamics, University of the West of England.
Job advertised in The Times Higher , December 9, 2005
Laurent Dala is too modest to admit that he has a very sexy career. But over the years, he has worked on Ariane satellite launchers, a project for a European space shuttle and, as chief aerodynamicist, for a start-up company designing airships to lift heavy cargo. He has worked on the design of business jets and is a consultant to several Formula One racing companies.
Yet he still relishes teaching and sharing his knowledge with students. He has for some time been a visiting lecturer at French universities. "I have always enjoyed teaching and the interchange of knowledge with the students.
You think you know, but then you teach and then, 'Oh my goodness, I'd never thought of it like that!' And that is very enjoyable.
"Aerospace for me is, well, I can't easily explain," he said. "When you are a child, you are always dreaming, and I was always dreaming of flying. I think if you are not dreaming, you are dead, in a way. Even now, I am still a child inside and I keep dreaming and keep imagining I am flying."
Dr Dala trained in mechanical and electrical engineering in France before studying at Manchester University for a PhD. He worked for 11 years in the aerospace industry. His work in aerodynamics is concerned with improving the flow of air over the surfaces of cars, planes and satellite launch vehicles to reduce fuel consumption, pollution and noise.
Four of the five top countries for aerospace are in Europe (Russia, the UK, France and Germany). Dr Dala said he wanted to use his position to foster more collaboration between universities in Britain and elsewhere in Europe.
"Universities are the key to enabling students to understand each other and work together on these huge international projects," he said. "I want to encourage greater numbers of student exchanges and collaborations, particularly with Russia, and I want to see industry invest much more in education."