21 October 2004

Top prize for engineering student

Alexandros Feretzakis, who graduated this summer from the University of Dundee in civil engineering, has been awarded first prize in a national competition run by the Institution of Structural Engineers. He will be presented with his prize tonight at a dinner in London.

Alex, who is from Greece, did his final year project on concrete framed buildings and was supervised by Dr Nutan Subedi, who is a Reader in the Division of Civil Engineering. Dr Subedi said: "This is a prestigious award in structural engineering for one of our best students. It shows the high standard of research work our students carry out as part of their undergraduate projects. I am very pleased to say that this is the second time that one of our students has been successful in achieving this important award."

The annual competition is organised by the Institution's Study Group on Model Analysis as a Design Tool. The competition is open to all final year undergraduates and first year postgraduates in Civil Engineering of UK universities. The candidates submit a concise 25-page summary of their final year dissertation describing a 'physical modelling project concerned with the resolution of a practical problem related to any form of construction, including marine and coastal structures using any construction material including steel, concrete, masonry, timber and composites'.

Alex is now studying for Master's degree in Structural Engineering at the University of Dundee and is continuing his research in the same field.

The title of the award is the "Institution of Structural Engineers Model Analysis Award 2004".

The award will be presented to Alex by Michael Dickson, Vice-President of the Institution of Structural Engineers, tonight (Thursday 21 October 2004) at a dinner in London.

Contact Dr N K Subedi 01382 344355

By Jenny Marra, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, j.m.marra@dundee.ac.uk