Peter Kew first became involved in heat pipes in the late 1970s as a research officer with International Research and Development (IRD) working on a range of heat transfer and energy conservation projects, including heat pipe development which was then led by David Reay. He has maintained this interest in this area for 40 years at IRD and then as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at Heriot-Watt University and as Associate Head of the University’s School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, responsible for the School’s activities on the Dubai Campus of the University. On retirement from Heriot-Watt he has been active as a consultant.