People and Papers Awards 2020: winners and commendations

Does the current global pandemic have the potential to be a great levelling influence across our sector and society at large?

A year ago, I opened my presidency with a call to embrace the future – a future which, I am convinced, will look quite different to what we have become used to; and, with the increasing complexity and opportunity, a call to work together for a creative and collaborative future. I believe, as I stated then, that the world is changing at a scale and pace which challenges our ability to understand the implications of these changes, let alone adapt to them, before there are changes yet again. Sharp headlines have underlined this for all of us throughout the year, reminding us that we, as individual professionals or collectively as an institution, cannot afford to stand still. I am proud to say that the Institution is not standing still, as over the past year I have met those members and professional communities around the world who are passionate about seeing that our profession will continue to play a vital role in the future of tomorrow’s built environment.

Mike Cook, Chair of the IStructE Climate Emergency Task Group, introduces a new 'Climate emergency' section in The Structural Engineer .