Press Release:

Date: Tuesday 22 September 09
For Immediate Release

Applications invited for Young Engineers Programme at DFI and EFFC International Conference

A new bursary scheme to support the attendance of young engineers at the DFI and EFFC International conference has been launched by the Geotechnical Challenges in Urban Regeneration organising committee.

Taking place on the 26-28th May 2010 at London ExCeL, the conference will unite consultants, contractors and engineers from across the globe. The bursary scheme is designed to allow younger members of the engineering profession who might face financial difficulty to attend the conference. Through the support of a number of sponsoring organisations, up to 60 young engineers stand to benefit from the scheme.

Speaking at the launch of the programme, Chair of the Organising Committee David Sherwood said “In recent years, there has been an increasing trend for more experienced members of the profession to dominate conference attendance. We are introducing this bursary scheme to allow a greater diversity of engineers to attend, and to give ambitious engineers in the emerging stages of their careers an opportunity to share their views on the challenges of urban regeneration and sustainability.”

“The bursary scheme will allow successful applicants to demonstrate their talents in front of an audience of over 300 decision-makers from across the engineering world. There will be special premiums for any young engineers who have been selected to present a paper at the conference.”

To qualify for entry into the bursary scheme, applicants must have less than ten years postgraduate experience in the profession. Entrants must be able to demonstrate how they plan to develop their career over the next 10 years in foundations and ground engineering.

Successful applicants will gain financial assistance to attend the conference at a heavily discounted rate and a contribution will be made towards their accommodation and travelling expenses.

Online application forms are available on the conference website at www.geotechnicalconference.com/yep. The closing date for applications is Friday 27 November.

For further information please contact Debbie Young on 020 7728 3910 or email news@geotechnicalconference.com

Notes to Editors:

The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) has gathered professionals in the deep foundations sector of the construction industry, to create a place for discussion, inquiry and debate for over 30 years. An international organisation, DFI has membership from over 40 countries across 6 continents. Visit www.dfi.org

The European Federation of Foundation Contractors (EFFC) produce through its network of EFFC officers, national co-ordinators, the executive committee and working groups, detailed guidance documents on a wide range of industry-relevant topics, from dispute resolution to joint venture contracts, to the use of on-line bidding and much more.  Visit www.foundationworld.org.uk

Applicants will be judged by a panel of at least four members including:

David Sherwood, Chairman, Bachy Soletanche Ltd

Tim Chapman, Director, ARUP

Professor Malcolm Bolton, University of Cambridge

Chris Primett, Director, Per Aarsleff (UK) Ltd

John Patch, Director of Piling, Roger Bullivant Ltd  

Dianne Jennings, EFFC

Melissa Corstophine, Emap Networks  

The Young Engineer Programme Supporters include:

Principal Supporters:

Aarsleff

Arup

Bachy Soletanche

DFI Education Trust

EFFC Special Projects Fund

Geokon

Giken

Keller

Roger Bullivant

Cementation Skanska

WSP 

Supporters:

Casagrande UK

NVAF

Stent

Tony Gee and Partners 

For further information visit www.geotechnicalconference.com/yep