Gavin Wilson Presents Gobbins Path Paper at International Symposium
08 September 2014
Gavin Wilson presented a paper at the 37th annual International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) Symposium in Madrid. The paper was on the restoration of Gobbins Path, a tourist attraction which is located in Islandmagee, County Antrim. It focused on the new scheme to restore a section of the original path, which incorporates the design and construction of a number of new stainless steel footbridges. The history of the path as well as the design that had been completed to date was also discussed in the paper.
The 3 day long Symposium was held in the CEU San Pablo University and included plenary and technical sessions, with a total of 450 paper papers presented by engineers from around the world. The theme for the Symposium was 'Engineering for Progress, Nature and People'. Attendees were treated to visits to the Prado Museum, the Plaza de Cibeles and the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid CF. Gavin, who is a member of our bridge and marine section, told the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), "I believe I have gained a lot from this experience. To successfully prepare a paper for submission as well as presenting to an international audience at the Symposium I feel is a significant achievement in my career to date.
The Symposium also offered me the opportunity to learn about projects, both large and small, being completed by engineers across the world, which I feel will further my development as an engineer. The social events also provided an unparalleled opportunity to meet other delegates of different nationalities at some of Spain's most famous landmarks.
With the support of an ICE QUEST Travel Award, attending the 37th IABSE Symposium in Madrid was a very positive and memorable experience. I'd like to thank my employer, Doran Consulting, for their support during my application."
Gavin is a member of the ICE and had applied for the ICE Queen's Jubilee Scholarship Trust (QUEST) Travel Award in April. QUEST was set up in 1977 to support and encourage education in civil engineering, in particular in terms of gaining experience working and learning abroad.