Tondup Wangail
Graduate Engineer, WSP India
Expertise
Design, Project management, Project ManagementLocation
IndiaMy highlights
Appointed Deputy Chair for Early Career Professional Events for Transport UK.
Mentor for India Professional Development Scheme, Transport Planning Society, WSP India.
Conducted many training sessions for UK staff in Junctions Modelling domains.
How I became a civil engineer
I come from a remote Himalayan region known as Ladakh. I studied civil engineering at Delhi University. During my college days, I founded a social organisation called Lamstan. The objective was to connect students from remote areas to mentors and professionals at a global level, to help them build a career. I come from a distant and isolated area so connecting with like-minded people and professionals is important. I enjoy engaging with other students and enabling them to pursue their career choice.
I became and civil engineer because I did want to make the world a better place, I know there will be global challenges facing us, whether it be climate change or growing population or increased urbanization. Although I like the technical part, it's the people part that appeals to me.
Civil engineering is a good way of bringing a lot of communities together. We can use and direct the resources of nature for the benefit of civilization.
A typical day in your life
A day in my life as a civil engineer is never less than exciting. Every day I get to work on wonderful projects around the world. It's nice catching up with international colleagues and sharing ideas to solve problems on projects. Directing the colleagues and team, mentoring and training the junior staff members and helping them grow in their career is very rewarding.
We asked Tondup…
I would recommend a career in civil engineering because..
Civil engineering is the application of physical and scientific principles for solving the problems of society.
Which individual project or person inspired you to become a civil engineer?
He was a British-trained engineer named Sonam Norbu.He was awarded the National Civilian Award (the Padma Shri) in 1961 by the Indian government.
I was inspired by his fascinating contribution to thousands of people and the nation through his engineering services. His career gives an opportunity to improve the lives of thousands of people and bring them joy.
He helped to build an airport in 1948. He also built the Srinagar - a road through the Zojila Pass in 1950 - and a hydro power station in Ladakh.
Complete this phrase: I’m a civil engineer, but I’m also …
A good manager with a good financial background and a good leader as well.
What about being a civil engineer gets you out of bed each morning?
Civil engineering has quite a big role in terms of sustainability. It's a good way of bringing a lot of communities together. We can use and direct the resources of nature for the benefit of civilization. This feeling of doing something greater for the civilization fascinates me.
What’s one great thing that you love about civil engineering that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?
The diversity of skillsets and multi-disciplinary approach requirement of projects.
Which civil engineering project (past or present) do you wish you’d worked on?
The installation of the first ever traffic signals in the UK.
Name one civil engineering myth you’d like to bust.
That civil engineering is a man's job. I believe civil engineering has no gender. Just because you are of any gender doesn’t make you less clever, any less strong or any less important really to contribute to society as an engineer.
Has civil engineering helped you overcome any personal hurdles/difficulties?
It's has helped me to understand more about team work and taking a multi-disciplinary approach. It's definitely help me develop a perspective for solving problems.
Anything else? i.e. personal causes, hobbies
During my college days, I helped to set up a social organisation known as Lamstan.
LamStan’s objective is to connect students from remote areas to mentors and professionals at a global level and to help them build a good career.
I spent a recent vacation setting up the LamStan Book Bank. The setup replicates the functioning of a bank but money is replaced by books!
Students can open an account by depositing books and enjoy the same 'facilities' as a bank account holder. This idea will promote the reuse of books and contribute towards sustainable and eco-friendly approaches in the remote Himalayan region.
My favourite projects
The scope included an assessment of 45 Junctions with both LinSig, Junctions 9 and DMRB 22/06 manual.
The idea is similar to STEM in the UK but covers a broad range of career domains.