The Outstanding Paper and Awards Committee (OPAC) promotes and celebrates excellence in structural and bridge engineering by recognizing outstanding achievements in research, innovation, and their contribution to engineering practice. Through its award programs, OPAC highlights work that advances the state of the art, inspires the engineering community, and creates lasting value for society.

As an international committee of leading academics and practitioners, OPAC is committed to identifying and honoring contributions that demonstrate scientific excellence, innovation, technical rigor, and practical impact. By recognizing both established researchers and emerging talents, the committee supports IABSE’s mission of advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and strengthening the connection between research and engineering practice.

Outstanding Paper Awards

Scientific progress relies on innovative research, rigorous methodology, and practical relevance. Each year, OPAC evaluates the research papers published in the Structural Engineering International (SEI), and identifies those that represent the highest standards of excellence in structural and bridge engineering.

The evaluation is conducted through a rigorous multi-stage review process involving the international committee members. Papers are assessed according to criteria including:

• Scientific excellence and originality
• Innovation and advancement of knowledge
• Technical quality and rigor
• Relevance and added value for engineering practice
• Contribution to research and knowledge transfer
• Potential impact on the structural engineering profession

The Outstanding Paper Awards recognize contributions that not only advance scientific understanding but also help shape the future of engineering practice. The award recipients are honored during the annual IABSE Awards Ceremony in Zurich each November, where their achievements are celebrated before an international audience of researchers, practitioners, and industry leaders.

Outstanding PhD Awards

The IABSE Outstanding PhD Award recognizes exceptional doctoral research and encourages the next generation of leaders in structural and bridge engineering.

Each IABSE National Group may nominate one PhD dissertation at a time. Eligible dissertations must have been completed within the previous three years. Candidates from countries without an IABSE National Group may submit their nominations through the IABSE Secretariat. Nominations remain eligible for consideration during the three-year eligibility period unless superseded by a new nomination from the respective National Group.

The selection process is conducted in stages:

• Evaluation of the nomination and its overall contribution to the field.
• Detailed assessment of the PhD thesis.
• Following the preliminary evaluation, the Jury may select 3 to 5 finalists.
• The Jury and IABSE may, where appropriate, organize a presentation and defence by the finalists as part of the final evaluation process.

The assessment considers:

• Scientific excellence and originality
• Innovation and contribution to the advancement of the field
• Methodological rigor and technical quality
• Relevance and potential impact for engineering practice
• Quality of communication and presentation

The Outstanding PhD Award celebrates young researchers whose work demonstrates exceptional scientific achievement and contributes to the advancement of structural engineering. Finalists, where selected by the Jury, may be invited to present their research and are formally recognized during the annual IABSE Awards Ceremony in Zurich, providing international visibility and recognition for their achievements.

Our Mission

OPAC is committed to identifying, promoting, and celebrating excellence within the global structural engineering community. The committee seeks to:

• Recognize outstanding achievements in research and engineering practice.
• Promote innovation and the advancement of structural and bridge engineering.
• Encourage the transfer of knowledge between academia and professional practice.
• Support and inspire the next generation of researchers and engineering leaders.
• Increase the international visibility of exceptional scientific and technical contributions.
• Foster a culture of excellence, creativity, and professional impact within IABSE.

Through its activities, OPAC contributes to strengthening the global engineering community and ensuring that outstanding achievements receive the recognition they deserve.

Committee Members

The Outstanding Paper and Awards Committee brings together distinguished experts from academia and practice, ensuring an independent, international, and multidisciplinary evaluation process.

Chair

• Alfred Strauss (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Austria)

Vice Chair

• Ane de Boer (Contributing Member)

Members

• Helder Sousa (Brisa, Portugal)
• Alessandro Palermo (University of Canterbury, New Zealand)
• Giorgio Diana (Politecnico di Milano, Italy)
• Marco Belloli (Politecnico di Milano, Italy)
• Kei-ichi Imamoto (University of Tsukuba, Japan)
• Jose Matos (University of Minho / STRAIN, Portugal)
• Panagiotis Spyridis (University of Rostock, Germany)
• Joan Ramon Casas (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain)
• David Lehky (Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic)
• Drahomir Novak (Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic)

The international composition of OPAC reflects IABSE’s commitment to excellence, diversity of expertise, and the global exchange of knowledge in structural and bridge engineering.

Further Information

Previous Award Recipients

Submission and Nomination Information

OPAC encourages researchers, authors, and National Groups worldwide to participate in these prestigious award programs and contribute to advancing excellence in structural and bridge engineering.