An IT Sligo post-graduate researcher, with an idea on how to make stronger, environmentally-friendly concrete, has won an Irish Independent/Higher Education Authority Making an Impact Award for 2015.
William Wilson (pictured right) was one of two students to each receive €2,500 after being selected from five finalists at an event in The Helix, Dublin City University. Ruairí Robertson from University College Cork was the other main award winner.
William’s presentation, on ultra high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete, won the Judging panel’s award. Ruairí’s was the choice of the audience of second-level students.
“I feel very privileged to have won this competition,” a delighted William said afterwards. “I feel it’s going to open a lot of doors for me. And it will help us (the Institute) look at how we can get this type of concrete out into use in Ireland.”
The €5,000 Making an Impact competition is an Higher Education Authority/Irish Independent initiative, aimed at post-graduate research students. The objective of the competition is the effective communication of research to a lay audience.
William also paid tribute to two companies – Banagher Concrete and Roughan O’Donovan – who have been offering advice and industry perspectives on his research.
“William is one of the best young engineers I have had the pleasure to work with during my career as an engineer,” said Tomás O’Flaherty, a lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering & Construction at IT Sligo, and William’s PhD supervisor .
“His dedication to his research work is very impressive and I am have no doubt he will go on to make a significant contribution to the Irish construction industry in the future.”
Professor Vincent Cunnane, President of IT Sligo also paid tribute to William’s success. “The Institute is very proud to see one of its students have his work recognised at national level,” he said.
“This success follows in the footsteps of other postgraduates in Civil Engineering and illustrates the calibre of student being produced in IT Sligo’s Civil Engineering programmes.”
Photo caption:
L-R: Ruairi Robertson (UCC) & William Wilson (IT Sligo), winners of the Irish Independent/Higher Education Authority Making an Impact Award, 2015.
Picture courtesy of Irish Independent.