A Durham University graduate has been recognised internationally for engineering excellence after winning a prestigious award from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
Paul Chambers, 22, an alumnus of the World Top 100 University, who studied MEng Civil Engineering, was awarded the Emerging Engineers Award, which also includes a cash prize of £1,500, for his report on London’s Paddington Station.
The ICE Emerging Engineers Award, presented at the global headquarters of the ICE, on One Great George Street, in London, showcases the work of the ICE’s graduate and student members with a focus on engineering design, research and practice.
Paul’s paper, which was titled ‘Investigation and Analysis of Temporary Propping at Crossrail Paddington Station’, detailed the link between technical standards and the delivery of major infrastructure projects.
Paul, from Aldergrove, Northern Ireland, said: “I am incredibly proud to have won the Emerging Engineers Award, a result which was never expected at the outset of the research project. Durham University has an excellent reputation as one of the top engineering institutions in the UK and I am honoured to have been able to present my work from the university in the competition, and to be recognised globally, especially considering the strong competition from across the ICE.
“By combining independent learning with the opportunity to have your work challenged by experienced industry peers, it proved to be an excellent learning opportunity. I am very grateful to Professor Charles Augarde, my supervisor and former professor at Durham, who walked me through the research process and has assisted greatly with my career progression.”
Since graduating in the summer, Paul is now a Graduate Civil Engineer at Skanska, working on the C405 – Crossrail Paddington Station joint venture with Costain.
Paul added: “The competition has been a very beneficial experience on both a personal and professional level for me, and I would urge other students and graduates who are pursuing a career in the industry to push their boundaries and take part.”
Professor David Toll, Chair of Engineering in the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences at Durham University, said: “We are indeed proud of Paul and his success in achieving this global award. The award was based on his final year dissertation for the MEng degree at Durham University, drawing on collaboration with Skanska. We are delighted that Skanska have recognised Paul’s potential and have now employed him to work on the very project that he researched during his MEng degree.”
Penny Marshall, ICE North East Director, said: “Paul is a deserving recipient of the ICE Emerging Engineers Award and has a bright future ahead of him. He displays a real hunger to succeed in the industry, which is evident in his paper, and I would like to wish him all the very best in his career.”