TCD Researcher Wins HEA ‘Making an Impact’ Award

May 07, 2010

Trinity College researcher Aidan Quilligan of the School of Engineering was the winner of the Judges’ Award in the Higher Education Authority’s Making and Impact Competition for his research into ‘Optimisation of Concrete Wind Turbine Towers’.  The competition, which is open to researchers in any discipline, asks applicants to make submissions on the difference their research work could make to Irish life, the country as a whole or internationally.

Aidan’s research submission looks at sustainable energy and highlights how concrete could prove more durable than steel in the construction of wind turbine towers.  His investigations suggest that the manufacturing of concrete wind turbine towers in Ireland could not only result in a benefit to the Irish economy but also reduce the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere as concrete construction is typically more sustainable than the production of traditional steel wind towers.

Irish Independent Education Editor John Walshe congratulates joint winner of the 'Making an Impact' competition, Aidan Quilligan.

Aidan, who is a PhD student in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, was chosen by an independent adjudication panel as one of six finalists for the competition.  Each finalist presented their research at a public event at the Helix in DCU from which the two winners were chosen.  The second prize of the Student Audience Vote was won by Roisin O’Shea of UCD.  Both winners were awarded a prize of €2,500 sponsored by the Irish Independent.