The department continues to grow. Both new research accommodation and refurbishment of the library were completed this year. Another major project will finish soon - a 'loft conversion' which creates new space for the Engineering Design Centre and enhances the Coe Fen frontage.

On the people front: Dr John Young became Professor of Appplied Thermodynamics in October 1998, and personal chairs have recently been awarded to Dr Mark Welland, Dr Piero PMigliorato and Dr Jim Woodhouse. We welcome Peter Guthrie as the new Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor in the field of Sustainability. We are also delighted that the Jafar Professorship of Petroleum Engineering is to be funded by a further 5 years. Professor Ann Dowling has been elected a Vice President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and Ken Wallace a Fellow. In April, Professor Bill Dawes was appointed to the DTI's Aerospace committee.

The year 2000 is the 125th anniversary of the department. We will be producing a celebratory issue of enginuity and a multimedia web-based presentation (including interactive educational simulations) about the Department's achievements, past, present and future. Instead of the usual September meeting of the CUEA (which this year was a very successful conference on the Communications Explosion), there will be a celebratory meeting on Friday 14th July 2000, to which all old members and friends are invited. Details will be circulated to all CUEA members for whom we have addresses, and will appear (under CUEA) on our website: http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk

MDM