College of Engineering student Panagiotis Manis who is currently studying for his MEng qualification, won first prize after competing against four other finalists at the Institution of Civil Engineering (ICE) Wales Graduate and Student paper competition. 

He presented a paper entitled “Computer Simulation of Earthquake and Wind Excited Truss Structures” which showed computer models of civil engineering structures being subjected earthquakes or wind, in order to predict the collapse load to help improve the design standards.  The project also included some very realistic case studies such as a computer model of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Panagiotis will be awarded with his prize at a ceremony in Cardiff before going on to represent Wales in the forthcoming UK ICE national competition in London later this year.

Panagiotis’ supervisor, Dr Antonio Gil said: “Panagiotis was the only student among the five finalists in the competition which is open to graduate students already working in civil engineering companies throughout Wales. The judges were very impressed by his outstanding performance and we have high hopes for him in the national competition. It was great fun to supervise his Level 3 project last year. Panagiotis’ commitment was very impressive from the very beginning.”

‌Panagiotis said: "I am very pleased for achieving such a prestigious award especially as civil engineers of very high calibre were impressed with my research. It is a definite recognition of my hard work and effort and constitutes a great source of motivation for my future studies and work“

Geoff Ogden of Atkins Global & Chair of ICE Wales Cymru with Panagiotis