The School of Engineering and Materials Science was delighted to host Mr John Korna, Senior Systems Engineer, and Dr Marc Thomas, Data Scientist and Digital Twins Lead, from NATS (National Air Traffic Services) for a guest lecture delivered to our Final Year Project A5 students.

This lecture forms part of a unique final year project that is one of only a few in the programme to involve a direct industrial partnership, providing students with the opportunity to work with real-world data and make a tangible impact on current aviation challenges.

Mr Korna shared his expertise in systems engineering for complex air traffic management solutions, while Dr Thomas presented his work on digital twin technologies and data-driven modelling. Together, they introduced the background and motivation of the project, outlined the nature of the datasets provided by NATS, and demonstrated how students can access and use these resources through the dedicated platform.

The session was warmly received by students, who valued the opportunity to engage with industry experts and gain first-hand insights into how advanced engineering methods and digital innovation are being applied in practice. By working closely with NATS, students are contributing to a project that connects academic learning with industry needs and prepares them to deliver real-world impact.