Dr Sannia Mareta

Interim Senior Tutor in Mathematics and Computer Science

Centre for English Language Education

PhD in Mechanical Engineering (University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China);

BEng (Summa Cum Laude) in Industrial Engineering (Universitas Trisakti, Indonesia);

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Post-Grad. Cert. in Higher Education (PGCHE)

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Microsoft USA and Wordware Certification

Sannia Mareta’s journey with the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) was started in 2013 by conducting a research-based doctoral study with the focus on developing the compliant-based actuation mechanism, a novel actuation method for controlling vibration that can be used for various vibration control applications, including for vehicle suspension systems. The work introduces the benefits of using compliant actuators for vibration control over well-established rigid actuators and comprises in-depth analysis on a simulation-based model for the combined compliant actuator and vehicle suspension. During these periods, she has also helped with supervising four final year engineering students and an overseas intern working on programming and actuator-related projects. In 2014-2015, she participated in the International Doctoral Innovation Centre (IDIC) PhD Innovation Competition, developing a multifunctional device for human alertness in a form of “smart glove”, which led the team to winning the 2nd prize. The glove aimed to prevent accidents caused by drunk-driving or sleep-deprived problems and to improve efficiency for industrial workers. This achievement has been well publicised by a number of printed and online media in Ningbo and Zhejiang Province, such as shown through the two links below.
- http://nb.zjol.com.cn/system/2014/09/29/020282829.shtml
- http://hzdaily.hangzhou.com.cn/dskb/html/2014-10/08/content_1812902.htm

In the following year, she then received a prestigious “Dream Scholarship” award from Professor Yang Fujia, the President of the University of Nottingham, for her dedication towards science and technology innovation to the university. Back in 2012 during her undergraduate study, her team’s work on “superhero stove” has also been awarded the 1st prize in the National Innovative Ergonomics Product Design Competition, Indonesia. The proposed stove consisted of intelligent sensing and control systems associated with energy efficient principle, bridging the needs of safety and security values during cooking whilst one has to multitask with other daily activities.

In November 2017, Dr Sannia Mareta joined CELE as a Preliminary Year Science Tutor and now is appointed as the Science and Engineering Academic Content Team Leader. She is also currently leading a university-wide project named V-ROOM, which focuses on research, development, and utilisation of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies, funded by Ningbo Education Bureau. This project primarily aims at developing virtual contents to enhance students' learning experience through digitalised and immersive teaching and learning environment; it is now thriving towards various interdisciplinary applications.

Current UG modules:
- Electricity & Magnetism (Module Convenor)
- Further Foundation Mechanics (Module Convenor)
- Foundation Science A
- Foundation Science B
- The Scientific Method

Experienced in teaching other UG courses:
Programming with MATLAB, Dynamics and Control, Control and Instrumentation, Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Professional Engineering and Project, Probability and Statistics.

• Mechanical Engineering (Vibration Control and Isolation System; Actuators and Compliant Actuator; Dynamics, Sensing and Control System; Vehicle Suspension)
• Industrial Engineering (Product Design and Ergonomics, Manufacturing Process, Production Planning and Quality Control, Factory Layout and Optimisation)
• Renewable and Sustainable Energy
• Advanced and Immersive Technologies (Robotics; VR/AR/MR)
• Science Education and Higher Education Pedagogy

University Leadership Roles
- 2020 - present: V-ROOM (VR-Based Training Centre in UNNC/Ningbo) Project Lead
- 2019-present: UNNC Lead for Teaching and Learning Observation College (TLOC)
- 2018-2021: Academic Lead for SACA (Student As Change Agents) Tri-Campus Initiative

T&L Projects
- 2019-2020: Primary Investigator for the DEEP (Design, Engineering, Engagement, Practicality) Project and Exhibition
- 2019-2020: Co-Investigator: Formula Race Car Project
- 2018-2019: Primary Investigator for the SACA Science Fans Club Project (workshops on Lego Robot and Virtual reality)
- 2018-2019: Primary Investigator for the T&L CELE Science Innovation Competition Project

Selected Teaching and Learning
- Lord Dearing Awards 2020 (Team Award: SACA)
- Lord Dearing Awards 2019 (Individual Awards: Teaching Excellence)
- Inspirational Contributor Awards 2019 (in Conjunction with the International Women's Day 2019)

Selected Innovations
- First Prize: National Ergonomics Product Design Competition 2012; Creation: Superhero Stove
- Second Prize: PhD IDIC Innovation Competition 2014; Creation: Smart Glove

Recent Peer-Reviewed International Conference Proceedings and Journal Papers

• Virtual Reality-Based Immersive Digital Learning Resources: Initial Study of the Design Features Perception from Future Architects, Proceeding of 2021 IEEE International Conference on Engineering, Technology & Education (TALE), Special Track 1: XR and Immersive Learning Environment, Wuhan, China, 5-8 Dec 2021. (2021, accepted)

• Embedding VRAD (Virtual Reality Aided Design) in Architectural Pedagogy, Proceeding of 2021 IEEE International Conference on Engineering, Technology & Education (TALE), Special Track 1: XR and Immersive Learning Environment, Wuhan, China, 5-8 Dec 2021. (2021, accepted) 

• Understanding the Cybersickness Effects of Using Virtual Reality-Based Classroom for Undergraduate Students: A Preliminary Study, Proceeding of the International Conference on Open and Innovative Education (ICOIE), Hongkong, July 5-7, 2021, pp. 278-293. (2021)

• A Pilot Study Investigating Students’ Perception of a Virtual Classroom Environment in Higher Education, Proceeding of the International Conference on Open and Innovative Education (ICOIE), Hongkong, July 5-7, 2021, pp. 294-312. (2021)

• Conventional and microwave-assisted pyrolysis of gumwood: A comparison study using thermodynamic evaluation and hydrogen production, Fuel Processing Technology, 184, p.1-11. (2019). 

• Gasification reactivity and synergistic effect of conventional and microwave pyrolysis derived algae chars in CO2 atmosphere, Journal of the Energy Institute, 92(3), p.730-740. (2019). 

• Utilisation of CO2 in renewable DME fuel production: A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)-based case study in China, Fuel, 254, 115627. (2019). 

• Control of vibration using compliant actuators, Journal of Vibration and Acoustics, Transaction of ASME, 139(5), ISSN 1048-9002. (2017). 

• Control of vehicle vibration using the combined compliant actuator and suspension system, Proceeding of IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation, p.1875-1880, Beijing, China. (2016).

• On the optimization of force control transmissibility using compliant actuators, Proceeding of ISMA on Noise and Vibration Engineering, p.193-203, Leuven, Belgium. (2015).

• Vibration control for force transmissibility using a flexible mechanism in a compliant actuator, International Symposium on Space Technology and Science, Kobe, Japan. (2015).

• Active vibration control using compliant based actuators, INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings, pp. 4541-4550(10). (2014).