Student membership of ICE

• Serban Berariu, student member

  

  I'm really enjoying my civil engineering degree because I can see how it applies to real life. There are lots of opportunities to get practical first-hand experience through lab tests, field trips and group projects.

  This year I’m learning even more about the industry on a work placement with WSP in Basingstoke (in south central England). I’ve worked on a variety of design jobs. These range from road networks to modelling surface water drainage for a new motorway in Qatar. It’s been an exciting learning curve for me, working with more experienced colleagues and seeing the knowledge I've gained used on current projects.

  I joined ICE to keep up-to-date with the latest developments and opportunities, to add to what I know from my course. As a student member, I like ICE’s events and recorded lectures because I can learn about lots of different topics. For example, I recently did a five-week course on finance in engineering.

  I admire how civil engineers can deal with urgent problems in quietly clever ways. The Elithis Tower in Dijon, France, is the world’s first positive energy tower, but that can slip by unnoticed. The design blends in with its surroundings, but it also drives the environmental performance of the building. This helps to keep energy demands and running costs low.

  Being able to change and improve the world around me makes civil engineering such an exciting profession to be in.

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• Emma Velterop, student member

  

  My interest in the built environment was sparked when I lived in Hong Kong. I saw huge areas of land being reclaimed from the sea, and there is an ever-changing skyline. It's interesting how this work affected the economy and environment.

  I’m studying for an MEng in civil engineering at University College London and am really enjoying my course. I especially like ‘scenario weeks’ where we put the theory to the test and complete a whole project. When coursework gets tough, I remind myself that what I learn will help me make positive changes to the lives of other people. So I know it will be worth it in the end!

  If you’re thinking of studying civil engineering my advice is to check the exact course content – it’s a subject with a very broad base, so you’ll want to see what areas each course will focus on. You’ll need maths and physics, but I took art A-level too which has helped with design. It’s good to have a range of interests which give you knowledge you can transfer to your engineering work.

  I like to keep up with what's going on in the industry by going to lectures, which are also great for networking. My ICE membership has opened doors for me and as it’s free there’s really no reason not to be a member.

  Another useful thing was joining the Graduates and Students (G&S) Committee. I've made industry contacts there who might help with finding work placements.

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