The Institution of Structural Engineers The Institution of Structural Engineers
Kenneth Severn Award

Kenneth Severn Award

Tag
Author
Date published
Price

Applications are now closed to the 2026 Kenneth Severn Award. This was a chance to receive a prize of £500 and be considered for inclusion in The Structural Engineer magazine.

How can structural engineers take a leading role in the construction industry to promote structural efficiency and thereby lower embodied carbon solutions? How can structural engineering research support this role and should we have minimum expectations of structural engineers in maintaining technical competence in innovation as well as maintaining public safety?

We looked for young engineers who tackled the above question set by incoming President Brian Uy. The winner will be announced at the People and Papers Awards, this year, receive a prize of £500, the prestigious Kenneth Severn Diploma, and see their entry considered for publication in The Structural Engineer.

The Award is named in honour of Kenneth Severn (President of the Institution from 1972-73) and is supported by the late Mr Severn's family.

Entries for 2027 will open early early December

Your written submission should be a maximum of 1,500 words and may include relevant imagery that supplements the text. Please note: all submissions must be made in English. We will not accept entries substantially created by artificial intelligence (AI). You may use AI tools to refine or improve the grammar or wording. If you use AI in your entry, please provide a statement at the end of the document describing which tools you have used and how.

Judges will consider:

  • Originality

  • Value to the structural engineering profession

  • Clarity of presentation

Previous winners

The Structural Engineer
<h4>Kenneth Severn Award 2020: How must structural engineers respond to the climate crisis?</h4>

Kenneth Severn Award 2020: How must structural engineers respond to the climate crisis?

In his winning entry to the Institution’s Kenneth Severn Award 2020 – an annual essay competition for young engineers – Will Rogers-Tizard argues that structural engineers can help tackle the climate emergency by making better use of materials, understanding carbon values and questioning industry norms.

Date – 2 September 2020
Author – Will Rogers-Tizard
Price – £9.95
The Structural Engineer
Sketch of engineer under competing pressures at work

Kenneth Severn Award 2021: Raising the levels of competence across the profession

Max de Podesta explores how structural engineers can develop a stronger knowledge-sharing culture and improve competency.

Date – 8 November 2021
Author – Max de Podesta
Price – £0
The Structural Engineer
Diagram showing how carbon should be considered alongside traditional design parameters of cost, quality and time

Kenneth Severn Award 2022: Learning to tackle the climate emergency through materials and reuse

Andrew Blackie examines what the structural engineering profession can learn from the past in order to tackle the climate emergency with a new approach to materials, efficiency and reuse.

Date – 1 July 2022
Author – Andrew Blackie
Price – £9.95

Explore our training, events and resources to support you throughout your career and membership journey