ACE technician celebrates 29 years at UEL

Hero Carousel

Published

27 November 2023

Share

In 1994, Harry Styles was born, Tony Blair became Labour leader and the Channel Tunnel officially opened. It was also the year that Chris Donovan joined the University of East London (UEL) as an apprentice engineer. 

Chris had tried jobs in banking and the export trade but it was at UEL where he could use his flair for construction and mechanics.

Chris said,

Since I was a child I always liked taking things apart to see how they worked, then one day I decided that I’d liked to know how to put them back together.”

Now 29 years on from his first day at UEL, he works as a senior technician in the Civil Engineering Department of the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering (ACE).

Chris Donovan facing the camera and smiling

His role involves supporting students and staff on a wide range of projects such as biomaterials creation, specialist testing rigs, moulds, mixers and tooling apparatus operation.

Chris said over the years one of the most rewarding parts of his job has been seeing the students he helped go on to have great careers. But the very best thing, he says, is the people he’s met.

He said,

I’d just like to thank everyone I’ve worked with and who helped me along my journey at UEL.

The Dean of ACE, Professor David Tann, said Chris’s expertise has been a cornerstone of the department, helping create a dynamic learning environment and fostering innovation and practical knowledge.

Professor Tann said,

Bridging the gap between academia and industry, Chris supports staff and students significantly in testing the structural behaviour of materials like concrete and other composite materials for industry. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to him for his excellent contribution to the ACE family and the UEL community more widely.

Unsurprisingly, Chris has seen many changes at the University over the years, and many memorable moments, from the building of the Docklands campus to the opening of the Knowledge Dock by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. For the Queen’s visit he remembers “We had to make sure everything was safe and clean for her to walk around.”

One revelation from Chris is that he, along with some students, created the flared arch on the Dockside opposite SportsDock. The structure, which was meant to be temporary, has lasted for two decades. 

He said,

Nobody knows what it is. It was created using lightweight blocks containing aggregates made from raw sewage. It was meant to be up for a few weeks to see if it would work and it’s it is still standing after 20 years.

Associate Professor Ali Abbas, Director of Laboratory and Workshop Services at ACE commends Chris’s technical knowledge and his consistent sharing of his expertise with students and staff. Abbas describes Chris as “the beating heart” of the structural engineering and materials laboratories.

He said,

Chris is instrumental in many of our teaching-related activities and research projects. There is always a spark in his eyes whenever there is a challenging experiment setup to be figured out. He is also very modest and a true asset to the school and the university.

Share