Programme Grant marks a milestone with its 1st Annual Independent Advisory Committee Meeting

The EPSRC-funded Making Hydrogen Work in Zero Carbon Jet Engines Programme Grant successfully held its 1st Annual Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) Meeting on 16 September 2026 at the Oxford Thermofluids Institute.

The event brought together researchers from the University of Oxford, Loughborough University and Imperial College London, alongside senior representatives from academia, industry and international research organisations, to review progress and discuss the challenges and opportunities for hydrogen-powered zero-carbon aviation.

Following opening remarks from Professor Clive Siviour, Head of the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford, and Professor Peter Ireland, Programme Principal Investigator, Co-Investigators and researchers presented developments across the programme's five research areas. A poster session provided further opportunities for discussion and exchange between researchers and IAC members.

The IAC brings together a senior and internationally diverse group of experts, providing independent advice, constructive challenge and strategic guidance to help the programme establish itself as internationally leading in the field.

Jacqueline Castle, Chief Technology Officer at the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and Chair of the IAC, commented:

Hydrogen presents significant opportunities for aviation, but also a broad range of technical challenges, from materials through to propulsion and integration. We are very pleased to be part of the IAC, as it gives us the opportunity to see how knowledge and understanding are progressing across these different areas, to engage directly with the research teams and to provide constructive challenge. It is particularly valuable to see how the programme is tackling these challenges together and how the different areas of research can contribute to the longer-term needs of the sector

Reflecting on the meeting, Professor Peter Ireland, Programme Principal Investigator, said:

"The Independent Advisory Committee plays a very valuable role in the programme, giving us the opportunity to share our progress, test our thinking and hear different perspectives. I am very grateful to all our IAC members for the time, expertise and constructive challenge they bring to the programme. We are particularly privileged to have Jacqueline Castle chairing the Committee, bringing her valuable perspective at the interface between academia and industry and helping us ensure that our research remains connected to the wider needs of the aerospace sector.”

The programme gratefully acknowledges the support of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and thanks all IAC members, invited guests, investigators and researchers for contributing to a successful and productive first annual meeting.