Former Battersea Polytechnic students Professor David Wood and Mike Banfield have joined forces with the University of Surrey to establish an annual prize to celebrate the University's first Professor of Chemical Engineering, Professor Russell Tailby, for his inspirational teaching and contribution to the field of Chemical Engineering.    

Professor Tailby was the first full-time lecturer in Chemical Engineering at Battersea Polytechnic in 1946, and later became the first Professor of Chemical Engineering when Battersea was granted its Charter to become the University of Surrey in 1964.  The prize, which is funded through donations, will recognise the highest performing student of the MEng degree programme in Chemical Engineering.   

Donations for the prize fund can be made at www.surrey.ac.uk/TailbyPrize  

About the University of Surrey 

The University of Surrey is one of the UK's leading professional, scientific and technological universities with a world class research profile and a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Ground-breaking research at the University is bringing direct benefit to all spheres of life - helping industry to maintain its competitive edge and creating improvements in the areas of health, medicine, space science, the environment, communications, defence and social policy. Programmes in science and technology have gained widespread recognition and it also boasts flourishing programmes in dance and music, social sciences, management and languages and law. In addition to the campus on 150 hectares just outside Guildford, Surrey, the University also owns and runs the Surrey Research Park, which provides facilities for 140 companies employing 2,700 staff.  

The Sunday Times names Surrey as 'The University for Jobs' which underlines the university's growing reputation for providing high quality, relevant degrees.  

Surrey is a member of the 1994 Group of 19 leading research-intensive universities.  The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching.  Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience. www.1994group.ac.uk