Professor Lizzy Cross
Professor Lizzy Cross, Professor of Structural Dynamics and former Head of Department shares more about the real-world impact of her research and creating a welcoming and inclusive department where all can thrive.
Professor Lizzy Cross, Professor of Structural Dynamics and former Head of Department for Mechanical Engineering (now School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering), Faculty of Engineering.
Lizzy joined the University after completing a degree in Mathematics, a Masters and PhD in Mechanical Engineering. As Professor of Structural Dynamics, she looks at how data that isn’t typically used can be extracted to generate useful information and insights.
Lizzy’s focus has been on how building physical modules into machine learning algorithms helps to make predictions outside of the data set collected. Her work helps to extend the lifespan of structures, helping to reduce waste and overdesign.
She is now Head of Department for Mechanical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering
Lizzy shares more about the real-world impact of her research and creating a welcoming and inclusive department where all can thrive:
“We currently have a wealth of data for many different structures, but often this data will be limited to a particular time span meaning that predictions about what the structure will do in conditions that are different to the ones that the data was collected in are difficult.
“My focus over the last few years has been on how we can build physical modes into machine learning algorithms that can help to make predictions outside of that data set collected. If we can fill in those gaps, the understanding gained from those predictions means that we can extend the lifespan of structures which will mean reducing waste and overdesign. I’m really proud to be a part of this work, there is real-world impact and academic longevity to this.
“In my work and role as Head of Department, I recognise that everything we do has an impact on how people feel across the department. When I came into the role, something I wanted to focus on was community and how we could continue to grow it within the department; we created all-staff town halls and socials that focussed on bringing people together and removing silos.
“In terms of encouraging different groups into engineering, encouraging more women is really important. We’ve launched several different initiatives, each of which I believe will have made and continue to make a difference. One recent and ongoing piece of work looks at how we embed equality, diversity and inclusion into the curriculum and be open about our ongoing journey with this. This is something that we talk openly about at open days and as part of our widening participation offer; hearing the student voice here is incredibly important.
“What I think it comes down to is doing this work day-to-day and doing it with a genuine desire to create a diverse and inclusive department where all feel welcomed.”
Thank you to all the women for taking the time to share their stories and reflections and for providing the information featured on these web pages.