Clare Hall President's Award

BP's Director of Advanced Technology, Steve Wittrig, has been awarded the Clare Hall President's Award for his work.

In a speech to guests Professor Ekhard Salje, President of Clare Hall, said: “I have always been impressed by Steve's understanding of the needs of industry and university alike. Very few people can cross this gap.

“By understanding academia so well, Steve has greatly advanced the interests of BP as he has led academics to a better understanding of the needs of industry.

“Through fostering the exchange of industrial and intellectual knowledge he has successfully manoeuvred international collaboration.”

Over the last five years Dr. Wittrig has been instrumental in the creation and development of a ten-year, $10 million research programme, ‘Clean Energy: Facing the Future'.

Wittrig worked with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tsinghua University to develop and deploy new clean energy technologies for China and the rest of the world.

He has also been active in Russia where he has helped established a successful scheme of scholarships and research based at the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas and Moscow State University for International Relations.

Wittrig has initiated visits by researchers based at these research institutions in China and Russia to Clare Hall, where valuable exchanges about scientific and engineering ideas have taken place.

“This kind of dialogue between universities from different parts of the globe is one of the benefits that BP can bring to the table in our research partnerships,” says Wittrig.

“They often open new and fascinating perspectives on scientific and engineering challenges that could have significant impact on the way we find, produce and use energy in the future.

“I am delighted and honoured to receive the Clare Hall President's Award.”