It doesn't take long talking with Roy Burek, grandson of the founder of Charles Owen, before the conversation steers into the science of head injury and the wonders to be found beneath the skull.
His passion has led him to be a supervisor for the HEADS ITN, a current Horizon 2020 European €3.4 million project* researching the future of sports helmet standards. Through his involvement with this project, he is in regular communication with top universities both in Europe and North America.
Charles Owen was chosen as one of only five first-round winners by the NFL** to develop a new material to absorb the energies involved in concussions. With Burek's extensive network, connections with Cardiff and Cambridge were established to develop a metamaterial, a material engineered to have a property that is not found in nature.
"This was an opportunity to go back to the fundamentals. Using the science of Origami, we can use theoretical mathematics to understand how to tune metamaterials to be superior. Then perfectly matching the needs of the brain to the complex geometry requires many hours of supercomputing and a deep understanding of the fast-moving science of neurotrauma," Burek commented.
"Cardiff University is recognised as a top engineering and supercomputing centre with access to the European leading brain imaging centre, CUBRIC and wide experience of additive manufacture that is necessary to create the final complex geometry in an ovaloid."
Professor Hywel Thomas***, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement at Cardiff University, welcomes Roy Burek as he accepts the position of Honorary Visiting Professor at the School of Engineering and joins the recently formed Concussion & TBI Prevention research group.
"It is an honour that you can only dream of and was totally unexpected," commented Prof Burek. He joins his older sister as the second Professor in the family, who currently holds the position of Professor in Geoconservation at Chester University.
** https://ninesights.ninesigma.com/web/head-health/challenge-3-winners
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About Charles Owen
Known throughout the world as the leader in equestrian helmet design, Charles Owen represents more than 100 years of innovation and style for a safer world. Each Charles Owen helmet is handcrafted using the highest quality materials. With the largest range of helmet styles and shapes, independently certified to up to four international equestrian safety standards, Charles Owen offers a wider range of protection in a potential accident. For further information, please visit: www.charlesowen.co.uk.
The countdown to the 2024 United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is getting shorter and the tentative schedule is officially set! For the second year in a row, the AEC returns to the iconic Kentucky Horse Park from August 27 through September 1 and will offer 26 divisions, including brand new Starter divisions and all levels of recognized evening up through the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final.
What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.
Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.
As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.