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Wednesday, 23 September 2015

Described by the Royal Academy of Engineering as the “world’s most eminent expert on geotechnical design of subsea pipelines”, a UWA Oceans Engineer has gained this major distinction after just 15 years of research into the mechanics of soils, foundations and pipelines for the offshore industry.

Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems Shell EMI Chair Professor David White, was this week elected to a Fellowship of the UK’s prestigious Academy representing leaders of the engineering profession.

Election to the Academy is by invitation only, with fifty new Fellows elected in September 2015, through a peer review made by existing Fellows.

UWA’s EMI Director, Mark Stickells described multi-award winning Professor White as an outstanding researcher who was playing a vital role in innovation and human ingenuity.

“He has achieved an international reputation for his work and leadership in areas of offshore engineering such as pipeline stability analysis, and to receive this recognition from the Royal Academy of Engineering is well deserved - we congratulate David on this honour,” he said.

Armed with his new title, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng), Professor White continues his commitment to serve the needs of local and international industry, as part of UWA’s large and growing team of offshore engineers, delivering positive results for the oil and gas industry both in WA and internationally.

“It is an honour for me to receive this Fellowship from the UK’s Royal academy. The Award recognises the work of a large team of UWA researchers, as well as important contributions from colleagues and PhD alumni working in industry, who bring the research to life in everyday design practice, realising the true benefits of what we do.

“It also shows me that my mother country has not forgotten me, and I look forward to contributing to the work of the academy, bringing an Australian perspective that draws on UWA’s successful partnerships with the energy industry,” he said.

Professor White’s Fellowship citation by the Royal Academy said that, “his seminal research contributions have transformed the geotechnical understanding of pipeline projects throughout the offshore oil and gas sector.”

His dedication to innovative engineering has also led to spin-off outcomes including novel research techniques such as advanced image analysis tools for deformation measurement and geotechnical centrifuge modelling concepts.

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) analysis software developed by Professor White and Dr Sam Stanier of UWA, in collaboration with Dr Andy Take (Queens University, Canada) is used at more than 50 research institutes worldwide and has had a significant impact on geotechnical centrifuge modelling practice.

President of the Royal Academy of Engineering Professor Dame Ann Dowling DBE FREng, FRS said the commitment and energy of our Fellows is the lifeblood of our Academy.

“Our new Fellows join us today as the country’s most innovative and creative minds from both academia and industry. We look forward to working with them, learning from their successes and drawing on their considerable expertise as we continue our work to promote engineering at the heart of society,” she said.

Media references

Ms Nicola Holman , EMI Communications Coordinator, +61 439 906 200

Prof David White , Shell EMI Chair in Offshore Engineering, +61 8 6488 3086

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