A pleasure and a privilege

Professor Anthony Kinloch

Professor Anthony Kinloch reflects on his time as Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering on the eve of his retirment.

An Imperial Head reflects on his time at the helm of one of the world’s leading engineering departments as he prepares to leave the role in October this year.

Professor Anthony Kinloch is retiring as Head of the Department (HoD) of Mechanical Engineering – a post he has held for the past five years, during a career at the College that has spanned 28 years.

Colin Smith caught up with Professor Kinloch for a light-hearted chat about his career and to find out what he will remember most about Imperial.

The good news is that you are not leaving Imperial entirely. What is your new role?
I am donning a lab coat once again to take on the part-time role of Senior Research Investigator (SRI), where I aim to further my research, developing tougher plastics that are used in adhesives and to bind composite materials together.

What does your wife think about your retirement from full time work and your new part-time career?
My wife tells me that as an SRI she does not want me at home for more than one day a week. For the other four days, I am allowed to do research only – no more administration. Basically, this means that I get to come to Imperial and have fun with my colleagues and research team.

What is your first memory of Imperial?
I joined Imperial from the Department of Defence in 1984 as a Reader under a Government initiative to recruit new academic blood to universities. My first memory of Imperial is being told at the interview by the then HoD that while I might aspire to become a Professor, I could never be the HoD because I was not a mechanical engineer - I am a materials scientist by training.

A very young Anthony Kinloch (middle) with colleagues

I guess that must have been like waving a red rag in front of a bull. How did you respond?
I thought that this was excellent news! So, I replied by asking him to please put his comments in writing, as a guarantee for the future.

How has the College changed over the years?
The addition of the Faculty of Medicine to the College has been a really important change. For our department this has enabled our medical engineering research to flourish. It has also meant that our engineers could take part with their medical colleagues in clinical trials and see their work taken from the lab bench to the bedside to improve patient care.

Also, for me personally, it has been great to have top medical experts on hand to see about my tennis injuries, which I seem to be rapidly acquiring as I get older.

What has been the biggest improvement at Imperial?
The best improvement was pulling together separate engineering departments to form a really strong Faculty of Engineering. The various HoDs and Faculty Principal may not always agree all the time, especially about matters to do with cricket and rugby, but we always reach a consensus on the best way forward and how to improve the strength of the departments and the Faculty.

Do you remember your first day as HoD?
Yes, I remember my first day vividly. At about 9am I was told that in hour’s time I had to give several welcoming talks to incoming undergraduates and MSc students. I’ve never written speech notes so quickly in my life.

What is the most valuable lesson that you have learned as HoD?
Professor Gordon Williams, former HoD of the Department, advised me: “Hold to your views and aims, but always be nice to people on the way up, since you meet them all on the way down!” I hope that has been the case, now that I am “on the way down”.

What will you miss most about your role?
I will miss interacting with younger staff in the Department who are starting out in their careers. We have recruited many new staff over the last five years. I know they have excellent careers ahead of them, whatever role they take on in the Department.

What do you think your colleagues will remember most about your time as HoD?
Who knows! I hope they remember some funny stories of me. For example, the fact that I have been elected to be the Senior Treasurer of the Royal Society Club fills them with great merriment. It has been said that: “The only thing Tony knows about money is how to spend it”.

And lastly, what will you remember most about your time as HoD?
It sounds really clichéd, but being able to teach and undertake research at Imperial has been a real pleasure and a privilege. I am obviously biased, but I do agree with comments from a former Rector who, when discussing my new HoD job with me, said: “The Faculty of Engineering is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Imperial.”

Professor Peter Cawley will be take over the reins as Head of the Department Mechancial Engineering in October 2012.