News archive
Muhammad Adnan wins Colin Relf Young Voices Award
Muhammad Adnan graduated with a PhD from ITS in 2010 and has recently been awarded a prize in a competition named the "Colin Relf Young Voices Award 2010" organized by the International Forum of Rural Transport and Development (IFRTD). IFRTD is a global network of individuals and organisations working together towards improved access, mobility and economic opportunity for poor communities in developing countries. The Colin Relf Young Voices Award 2010 competition required a submission of an article about transport improvement in developing countries and its effect on health related issues. This was an open competition for participants from all developing countries.
Muhammad did his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Dave Watling and Dr. Tony Fowkes and currently works as an Associate Professor in the Department of Urban and Infrastructure Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi.
If you have a success story that you would like to share simply send us an email to info(at)its.leeds.ac.uk along with a photo to accompany it.
Dr Rico Merkert wins Michael Beesley Award
Dr Rico Merkert won the award for the best paper presented at the Thredbo 12 conference (in Durban, RSA) by a person in the first ten years of their career. Rico studied at ITS as a Marie Curie Research Fellow and PhD student in Transport Economics from 2006-2009). He is now a lecturer in Air Transport Economics and Management at Cranfield University.
The Michael Beesley Award:
Professor Michael Beesley was one of the most influential transport economists of his time. He was the co-founder (with Professor David Hensher) of the Thredbo conference series. In 2005 the conference series' International Steering Committee established the Michael Beesley Award to pay tribute to his memory. The award recognises the best workshop paper presented at the conference by a person in the early stages of their career (first ten years). The person must be the primary author of the paper presented. The award is determined by the Michael Beesley Award Committee Chair (appointed by the Conference Chair) in consultation with all Workshop Chairs. The award recipient receives a trophy presented on the closing day of the conference at the conference dinner.
If you have any interesting stories of achievement since graduating we would love to hear from you too. Simply email info(at)its.leeds.ac.uk with your news and a photo.
ITS visits China's Southwest Jiao Tong University
Dr Frank Lai visited China's Southwest Jiao Tong University (SWJTU) in July 2011, to present a paper at the third International Conference on Transportation Engineering at SWJTU. As part of the visit, Frank met members of the senior management team at the Faculty of Transportation and Logistics, including the Dean and Pro Deans - to discuss options for teaching and research collaboration. Frank will be hosting key members of staff from the SWJTU Faculty of Transportation & Logistics, when they make the return visit to ITS in the coming months.
ITS is keen to discuss opportunities to collaborate with other leading centres, researchers and practitioners. If you would like to meet with ITS staff during one of their regular overseas visits, please email your details to info@its.leeds.ac.uk and we will be happy to facilitate.
From left to right:
Mr Shichen ZHANG, Researcher, China Academy of Railway Sciences. Dr Frank Lai, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds. Professor Bin SHUAI, Pro Dean, Faculty of Transportation and Logistics, Southwest Jiao Tong University, China. Ms Yulin MAO, Committee member, Chinese People’s Consultative Conference.
Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport for London and University of Leeds graduate, delivered the Annual Alumni Lecture to an audience of over 120 alumni.
Transporting London - the economics and politics of keeping a world city moving
Peter Hendy opened his lecture by outlining the history of the transport network in the capital; 'Transport in London has always been shaped by the parliamentary process.' explained Hendy. 'When transport links were first developed its purpose was to bring things within easy reach of the capital. Whilst mobility improved between London and the rest of the country, travel within the capital remained problematic.' It wasn't until the 20th Century that the capital's entrepreneurs developed the tube and built it in only 16 years.
London is the only city in the world to have its transport entirely under mayoral control, and Transport for London (TFL)'s remit is vast. Covering 'everything that moves in the city' the mayor's transport strategy is ambitious and Hendy argued that it could never have been delivered under central government control. Hendy believes that the implementation of a mayoral system was one of the best things that could have happened for transport in London and that the changes witnessed over the last two decades would not have happened without the political weight of an elected mayor.
Hendy argues that without the mayoral system, revolutionary ideas like the congestion charge, oyster cards and Boris bikes would never have been realised. There are now more people than ever on London's buses and there has been a 15% increase in cycling in the city within the last 12 months. The change in governance has been a huge step change for transport in London, and having a proper strategic authority that is prepared and supported by business has been a major boost for the city.
The lecture was followed by a question and answer session and drinks reception with Peter, whilst guests enjoyed stunning views from the balcony of London's Living room, on the 9th floor of City Hall, home of the Greater London Authority.
Alumni event in London on 8 June 2011 at which Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport for London, spoke about 'Transporting London - the economics and politics of keeping a world city moving'.
