In an inspiring celebration of diversity and innovation, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)¹ has announced that, for the first time, all top prizes in its prestigious UK-wide CityZen Award have been won by all-female student teams. The announcement coincides with International Women in Engineering Day², making this achievement even more remarkable.
Who are the trailblazing winners?
Gold Award – The Deltas, Bearsden Academy, Scotland
Zara Manson (16), Mridhula Anand (16), Mira Stankovic (17), and Konstantina Styliara (17) impressed the judges with their ambitious project to convert a disused local mine complex into a geothermal power plant. Their innovative idea provides a sustainable solution to generate renewable energy for the people of Kirkintilloch, Scotland, while also tackling rising energy bills and reducing environmental impact. Their proposal was brought to life through a creative and engaging animated film.
Silver Award – Team Rocket and Groot, Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School, Kent
Livy Leonard (17) and Yasemin Maras (18) tackled a pressing issue in their community: roundabout safety. Their multifaceted proposal included removing large trees to improve visibility, installing better road signs to remind drivers to indicate, adding clear lane markings, and introducing a dedicated cycle lane. Their innovative ideas, combined with a well-produced video presentation, earned them the Silver Award.
Bronze Award – Team Mechanicus, Leicester High School for Girls
Jasmin Nathanie (17) and Simreat Sanghera (16) focused on reducing the carbon footprint of new housing developments. Their project explored repurposing landfill materials through pyrolysis, a process that breaks down waste using heat in the absence of oxygen. Impressively, the team didn’t just theorise — they experimented with creating brick mixtures themselves, showcasing both scientific curiosity and practical application.
Each winning team receives up to £1,000 in prize money, along with an equivalent amount awarded to their schools for STEM resources, helping inspire the next generation of innovators.
What is the ICE CityZen Competition?
The ICE CityZen Programme is designed to spark young people’s interest in civil engineering through two exciting competitions:
ICE CityZen Award
Aimed at 16- to 18-year-olds, this two-stage competition encourages students to identify real-world problems in their communities and propose engineering solutions.
- Stage One involves an online game where students tackle engineering challenges, making decisions that balance sustainability, carbon footprint, budget, and community impact.
- Stage Two requires students to apply their learning by creating a video presenting their solution to a local challenge.
ICE CityZen Pollution Control Challenge
Targeting 14-to 16-year-olds, this online game challenges students to investigate and solve a river pollution problem, considering environmental, social, financial, and political factors.
This year also marked a milestone, as two teams from Bearsden Academy, Glasgow, earned top-three positions in the CityZen Pollution Control Challenge:
- Team JIR, consisting of Jamie More, Ross Anderson, and Jamie Gallagher (all 15), stood out among hundreds of entries, highlighting Bearsden Academy’s commitment to developing young engineering talent.
Breaking Barriers and Shaping the Future
Séan Harris, ICE’s Deputy Director General and Director of Membership, expressed his pride in the achievements of these young women: “How fantastic that three all-girl teams took the prizes in this year’s CityZen competition. I can’t think of a better way to illustrate that civil engineering is an inclusive, exciting career for anyone who wants to solve the problems that society faces. The industry needs diverse thinking, and these students have it in spades. If we can attract this type of talent into our industry, the future of civil engineering is bright indeed.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
The success of these young women serves as a powerful reminder that engineering is for everyone. Through initiatives like the ICE CityZen programme and global celebrations such as International Women in Engineering Day, barriers are being broken, and the future of civil engineering is becoming more inclusive, innovative, and inspiring than ever.
¹Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
Founded in 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is a global professional body that supports and promotes civil engineering. With over 95,000 members worldwide, ICE works to advance the profession, inspire future engineers, and tackle global challenges such as climate change, infrastructure development, and sustainability.
²What is International Women in Engineering Day?
International Women in Engineering Day, celebrated annually on June 23rd, recognises the outstanding achievements of women engineers around the world. It highlights the need for greater diversity in engineering and encourages more young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
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