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A PhD student from The University of Western Australia's School of Civil and Resource Engineering has won the 12 ^th Dr Baden Clegg Award for a presentation on analysis of tailings dam liquefaction.

David Reid, of Fremantle, was named winner at the recent Australian Geomechanics Society (AGS) WA Chapter Young Geotechnical Professionals' Evening Seminar for his presentation ‘Critical state-based analysis of tailings dam liquefaction - prior to deposition'.

This year's event, held at Engineers Australia, UWA, on July 23, showcased three finalists following a review of entrants' abstracts by the AGS.

The Dr Baden Clegg Award is presented annually to recognise the presentation skills of younger (under 35) geotechnical professionals working in industry or academia.  Presentations are assessed on their technical content, presentation quality and presentation style.

The award is named in honour of Dr Baden Clegg, a UWA lecturer for three decades, and celebrates his lifetime of achievement in the support and development of young geotechnical professionals.

Dr Clegg was instrumental in the invention and development of the Perth sand penetrometer and the Clegg Impact Hammer, tools widely used to evaluate and construct earthworks, roadworks and airstrips.

Scooping the best contribution, as judged by a panel of experienced geotechnical AGS WA chapter members, Mr Reid received a trophy representing the Perth sand penetrometer, a cash prize of $500 and a copy of the Australian Geomechanics Society Journal Collection on DVD.

As well as studying for a PhD at UWA, Mr Reid also works part-time as a tailings engineer at Golder Associates in Perth. Originally from Canada, he has been working in WA as a tailings engineer for eight years.

Media references

Clara Dodman (Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics)  (+61 8)  6488 5079
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783