A graduate tunnel engineer representing London and South East England has won the 2020 national final of ICE’s Pitch 200.

Atkins engineer Rui Jian Tee won the most public votes for his video explaining the innovative uses of geosynthetic geogrid to reinforce soils and similar materials.

Pitch 200 is an ICE-run competition where civil engineers use their creativity and communication skills to explain a civil engineering idea or principle in just 200 seconds.

Tee’s pitch explored the positive aspects of using plastic solutions like geogrids to bring lasting safety benefits to infrastructure projects.

Pitch 200 usually takes place before a live audience before a public vote. This year the event was moved online because of social distancing restrictions. 

Eight civil engineers took part in the national final after being selected in regional heats.

University of Warwick civil engineering student Jasmine Brittan, who was representing the East and West Midlands, came second with a video making the case for Hyperloop as a low energy solution to future transportation needs. 

She explained the principle of this new technology using a hair dryer, ping pong ball and toilet roll.

Third place went to Costain civil and structural engineer Maria Eftimova who represented North West England. 

The presentation focused on the wastewater treatment process and included a river water filtration demonstration with Maria drinking the clean end product.

First placed Tee won a £400 voucher, Brittan received a £200 voucher for coming second and Eftimova a £150 voucher for third place.

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