Callum White, who recently completed his PhD at Clare Hall and the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, has been awarded the Best Oral Presentation Award at the 11th International Conference on Building Materials and Construction (ICBMC), held in Tokyo, Japan.

ICBMC brings together researchers, engineers, students and industry professionals from around the world to share the latest developments in building materials and construction.

Callum was recognised for both the clarity of his presentation and the quality of his doctoral research. His work introduces a novel digital tool that enables real-time understanding of concrete behaviour, something that has traditionally required costly and time-intensive laboratory testing.

The system combines 3D scanning technology, which captures the precise geometry of concrete, with wireless sensors that monitor how the material flows. Together, these measurements provide insight into key properties, offering a practical way to identify potential quality issues on construction sites before they develop into costly problems.

Developed in collaboration with Professor Janet Lees, the research addresses a significant challenge in the global construction industry. Limited understanding of concrete performance contributes to material waste, project delays and budget overruns, as well as unnecessary environmental impact. Improving insight into material behaviour is therefore widely seen as critical to improving construction outcomes.

Reflecting on the award, Callum said: “I was delighted to be recognised at this prestigious conference for my PhD work and its potential to improve construction quality in practice. I am very grateful for the support of the College, which enabled me to travel to Tokyo.”

We are delighted to celebrate Callum’s achievement and to see his research gaining international recognition – many congratulations and best of luck from Clare Hall!