The three winning project pitches tackle renewable energy, community safety and sustainable infrastructure materials.
Three all-female teams have taken the gold, silver and bronze prizes in the 2024-25 ICE CityZen Award.
This is a milestone in the competition’s four-year history, reflecting the growing interest and talent of young women in the field of civil engineering.
As the world marks International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) today, the institution celebrates this “fantastic” achievement.
“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,” said Séan Harris, the ICE’s deputy director general and director of membership.
For the competition, students aged 16-18 engaged with the multi-award-winning ICE CityZen digital game and submitted projects that addressed real-world engineering challenges.
All while keeping budgets, sustainability, and improving their local community in mind.
Harris added: “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!”
Winning teams received between £250-£1,000 in prize money, with the same amount awarded to their school for STEM resources.
They were also welcomed to a celebratory lunch at the ICE’s London headquarters, hosted by ICE Senior Vice President, David Porter.
ICE CityZen Award – winning teams
Zara Manson (17), Mira Stankovic (16), Mridhula Anand (16) and Konstantina Styliara (17) from Bearsden Academy in West Scotland made up The Deltas, the team that secured the top prize.
They impressed the judges with their bold proposal to convert a local disused mine into a geothermal power plant.
Their idea, taking inspiration from successful schemes like the Shettleston project in Glasgow, focused on supplying renewable energy to the nearby town of Kirkintilloch.
Their aim was to cut energy costs by up to 60% and reduce environmental impact of traditional energy production and supply.
The Deltas’ submission stood out for its depth of research and creativity, concluding in a compelling animated video that brought their vision to life.
The Deltas team said CityZen was an experience they would “never forget”.
“We had so much fun and have made a plethora of cherished memories of working together as teammates.
“CityZen has made us braver, more confident people and has encouraged us to chase more new exciting opportunities.”.
Watch their video
Team Rocket and Groot consisting of Livy Leonard (17) and Yasemin Maras (18) from Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School in Kent, took home the Silver Award.
Their project tackled local traffic issues by suggesting practical changes to a local roundabout including clearer signage, better lane markings, removing visual obstructions and adding a dedicated cycle lane to improve road safety.
Watch their video
The Bronze Award goes to team Mechanicus, made up of Jasmin Nathanie (17) and Simreat Sanghera (16) from Leicester High School for Girls.
Their idea focused on reducing the carbon footprint of new homes by repurposing landfill waste into construction bricks using pyrolysis – a process in which high temperatures are used to change the chemical composition of substances.
The team even created and tested their own brick mixture, demonstrating hands-on innovation.
Watch their video
Team Safaga Bay City from Rochdale Sixth Form College won the JBA Trust special prize for their project pitch.
Consisting of students Ffion Williams (17), Gabby Ogden (17), Scarlett Crossley (16) and Anjuma Ali (17), this team designed a city concept that balanced urban growth with environmental protection.
Their proposal integrated green spaces, biodiversity support, and sustainable infrastructure to create a nature-friendly urban environment.
Watch their video
This special award goes to team Reptech25 from Repton School – pupils Fisayo Atere (17), Arthur Bargende (16), Martin Iankov (17) and Thomas Sadlier (17).
Reptech25 proposed turning a flood-prone agricultural site into a solar farm to generate green power for the local area.
Their clear, confident presentation and strong communication skills earned them recognition for excellence in public speaking.
Watch their video
Recognising the achievement of the top-scoring teams
The ICE congratulates all 290 teams who took part in the digital game, especially those who achieved the highest game scores and secured prizes.
- First place went to team Postman Pat from Wilberforce College in Hull: Luke Musgrave (17)
- Second place went to team Verde Nexus from Bromsgrove School in Birmingham: Alex Chung (18), Aidan Swadling (17), Hei Kiu Chan (18), Jacob Moore (18)
- Third place went to team Lilac from Carrickfergus Grammar School in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland: Max Matuszewski (17), Josh Millar (17), Stephen Galway (17), Noah McCaffrey (17)
ICE CityZen competitions
ICE CityZen Award
The competition is a multi-award-winning initiative for students aged 16 to 18.
It has recently been CREST accredited, giving students and schools the opportunity to gain more recognition for their work.
The ICE CityZen Award blends digital gameplay with real-world problem-solving to spark interest in civil engineering careers.
It’s split into two parts:
- Part one: students take on the ICE CityZen online game, where they face a series of engineering-themed challenges. They must weigh decisions based on sustainability, carbon impact, budget constraints, and community needs, mirroring the complexities real engineers face.
- Part two: using what they’ve learnt from the game, students identify a real issue in their local area and propose a civil engineering solution.
ICE CityZen Pollution Control Challenge
It was the inaugural run for this shorter competition for 14- to 16-year-olds.
Through an online game, students explore the role of civil engineers in protecting the environment.
Players investigate the causes of river pollution and explore the solutions engineering can offer.
They must consider environmental, social, economic and political factors to gain a holistic view of how civil engineering shapes the world.
Three teams were recognised as top performers in the Pollution Control Challenge:
- Team JJR from Bearsden Academy, Glasgow: Jamie More (15), Ross Anderson (15), and Jamie Gallagher (15)
- Team Cooking from Bearsden Academy, Glasgow: Jack Man (15) and Connor Wylie (15)
- Team 73rd Demon Realm from King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, Birmingham: Yilin Yang (16) and Emily Chen (15)
The winners were awarded Waterstones gift cards and will take part in a civil engineering experience in their area, offering a real-life glimpse into issues they explored through the game.
Take part
To register for the 2025 competitions or find out more, visit:
A thanks to partners and members
The ICE CityZen competitions are made possible by the support of the institution’s members and partners Loud Speaker and the JBA Trust.
The ICE extends its sincere thanks to all the ICE STEM ambassadors who mentored school teams throughout the competition. Find out how to support the next instalment of the competitions, starting autumn 2025.
The ICE also thanks the CityZen Award judges:
- Lianne Darbinson, ICE member
- Kate McStrafick, ICE member
- Timothy O'Brien, ICE member
- Dr Rebecca Wade, ICE member
- Rob Lamb, director of the JBA Trust
- Oba Akinwale, Loud Speaker co-founder
- Claire Mulley of The David Butler Trust
Sustainable Development Goals:
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