Princess Royal Award for Emerging Engineers: South West final

Aung Zay Ya

Aung Zay Ya is a final-year BEng civil engineering student at UWE Bristol, graduating in June 2026. With a passion for structural dynamics and digital engineering, his current research focuses on advanced seismic protection, specially utilising non-linear time history analysis to evaluate hybrid isolation systems in steel frames.

Looking ahead, Aung plans to pursue an MSc in Building Information Modelling (BIM). He actively integrates his skills in Python programming and finite element analysis to drive automation and optimise structural design workflows.

Hannah Hart

Hannah is a degree apprentice at AtkinsRéalis, finishing her final year studying at UWE Bristol. She has a strong interest in flood risk management, climate resilience, and community preparedness. Her paper evaluates the effectiveness of coastal flood warning systems in Newport, South Wales, focusing on both their technical performance and social effectiveness. The research combines the evaluation of notifications performance against observed conditions and environmental influences, alongside an assessment of public perception and community response. Findings suggest a critical disconnect between forecasting capability and human response, showing how operational inconsistencies and public understanding can reduce trust and limit meaningful action during flood events.

Sacha Watson

Sacha lives in Cornwall and is currently a third year MEng student at the University of Southampton. As an ICE QUEST Scholar with BAM Nuttall, he has completed placements at Devonport in Plymouth and worked on South West Water's Amplify framework in Cornwall. He is a member of the ICE South West Neurodiversity Network.
    
Sacha is passionate about optimising the systems we rely on everyday to deliver sustainable, appropriate benefits for the end user. In his research, he applies his love for user-centred design to urban park lighting, suggesting how lighting affects user experiences and its significance, both in relation to other placemaking factors and the balance of social, economic and environmental impacts.