University of Glasgow’s Dr Mahmoud Wagih Wins Sir George Macfarlane Medal for Sustainable Electronics Innovation

University of Glasgow’s Dr Mahmoud Wagih Wins Sir George Macfarlane Medal for Sustainable Electronics Innovation

(IN BRIEF) Dr Mahmoud Wagih of the University of Glasgow has been awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Sir George Macfarlane Medal for his early‑career achievements in sustainability‑driven electronics and public engagement. Presented on 8 July in London, the award included a £3,000 prize as one of the Young Engineers of the Year. Dr Wagih’s work spans from his undergraduate RF research at Southampton and his PhD on antenna‑embedded clothing to industry experience at Arm. At Glasgow, he heads the Green Electronics Lab, where his team develops wireless power transfer and sensing innovations, including biodegradable circuits and battery‑free smart socks for healthcare monitoring. He also founded RX Watt to commercialise long‑range wireless charging chips. Nominated by Professor William Whittow, Dr Wagih was lauded for his comprehensive research skills, outreach efforts, and societal vision. The medal honours Sir George Macfarlane, a radar and telecommunications pioneer.

(PRESS RELEASE) GLASGOW, 15-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — An engineer from the University of Glasgow has been honoured with one of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s top accolades for outstanding early‑career contributions. On 8 July at the Academy’s annual Awards Dinner in London, Dr Mahmoud Wagih was awarded the Sir George Macfarlane Medal in recognition of his exceptional work developing sustainability‑focused electronic systems and his dedication to public engagement in engineering. Alongside the medal, he received a £3,000 cash prize as one of the RAEng Engineers Trust Young Engineers of the Year, supported by the Worshipful Company of Engineers.

Dr Wagih’s journey began with an undergraduate degree in electrical and electronic engineering at the University of Southampton, where he undertook a radio‑frequency engineering research internship. His doctoral studies then pioneered the integration of antennas into wearable textiles to enable wireless charging of devices embedded in clothing.

After a stint at Arm as an industry researcher, Dr Wagih joined Glasgow and now leads the interdisciplinary Green Electronics Lab. His team has advanced wireless power transfer and sensing technologies—ranging from biodegradable electronic circuits to a trial of over 1,000 prototype, battery‑free “smart socks” for remote health monitoring. He also founded RX Watt, a startup dedicated to sustainable, long‑range wireless charging chips.

Reflecting on his achievements, Dr Wagih said, “My first Bluetooth‑enabled insole antennas set the tone for my passion in engineering—seeing a device we designed come to life in the lab is always thrilling. I’m deeply grateful to the Academy for this honour, especially as Sir George Macfarlane was a pioneer in wireless and radar who also studied here in Glasgow.”

Dr Mahmoud Wagih with members of the Macfarlane family

Professor William Whittow of Loughborough University, who nominated Dr Wagih, praised him as “an outstanding researcher whose strengths span experimental work, theoretical analysis, innovative problem‑solving, industry collaboration, outreach, and visionary thinking—all driven by a desire to improve society.”

The Sir George Macfarlane Medal commemorates one of the Academy’s founding Fellows, renowned for his wartime radar developments and postwar leadership in telecommunications and engineering education.

Media Contact:

email: media@glasgow.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Glasgow