School of Engineering - University of Waikato

24/09/2026

Eva Glucina-Young, one of our fourth year civil engineering students, was recently awarded an AusIMM NZ EET scholarship and invited to present her work at the AusIMM NZ Branch Annual Conference in Rotorua.

There, she received the Best Student Presentation award for her project: Biochar Adsorption for Heavy Metal Removal from Water. Her research investigates the use of biochar as a lower-cost and more sustainable adsorbent for removing heavy metals from water, with a particular focus on its potential application to mine-impacted water.

Eva says: "One of the highlights of the conference was the opportunity to meet and connect with so many people across the New Zealand minerals industry. I really enjoyed hearing from the speakers and learning about the wide range of work happening across different areas of mining.
A huge thank you to the AusIMM New Zealand Branch and everyone involved in organising the conference and supporting the student attendees. It was a fantastic experience and one I’m very grateful to have been part of."

Well done Eva! We're so proud of you.

01/09/2026

🚀 50 DAYS TO GO

The countdown begins - only 50 days to go until the 2026 EDS

Sorry for the potential scary post for our current 4th Year Students!

YES - Young Engineers Society at UoW
School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences - University of Waikato

28/08/2026

Applications for SheENG are now open!

A four-day, three-night residential programme for young women exploring engineering - offering a true taste of engineering life and engineering study at tertiary level!

For female and female identifying students currently in Year 12.

Dates: Tuesday, 19 January 2027 - Friday, 22 January 2027
Location: University of Waikato, Hamilton
Accommodation: Participants will stay in the Hamilton Campus Halls of Residence under staff supervision.
Fees: SheENG is a FREE programme.

APPLY HERE: https://www.waikato.ac.nz/study/upskilling/sheeng/

20/08/2026

Congratulations to our very own Gerasimos Christoforatos who was named the Supreme Winner of the Resene Next Gen Awards 2026.

From the post by the Building Institute Aotearoa:
==
Outstanding research alone does not secure a Supreme Award. What set Gerasimos apart was the exceptional combination of academic excellence, industry influence, personal character, and future potential demonstrated throughout his application.

The judges were impressed by his internationally recognised research and commitment to advancing sustainability in the built environment. Equally compelling was his authenticity, humility, self-awareness, and clear vision for creating positive change across the construction sector.

With ambitions extending beyond research into influencing industry practice and public policy, Gerasimos represents the very best of the next generation of leaders shaping New Zealand's built environment. A truly deserving Supreme Winner.
==

So proud of you and your work Gerasimos!

10/06/2026

Some of our students are in the Innovation Hub at the National Fieldays happening 10-13 June.

04/06/2026

04/06/2026

Aimed at facilitators, teachers, educators and engineering professionals we are hosting an event on 17th June 2026 in conjunction with Fletchers Construction, Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE), Engineering New Zealand, Bridge Engineering Technical Society (BETS), Brian Perry Civil, Civil Contractors New Zealand and Higgins.

Bridges to Schools is a free, hands‑on STEM programme that introduces children to the basics of engineering. Through guided activities, students work together to assemble a child‑sized cable‑stayed bridge at their school—sparking curiosity, confidence, and interest in civil engineering and STEM careers.

Join us at this workshop to learn how you can book and facilitate a Bridges to Schools session at your local school. You’ll hear from the partners who make this free programme possible and from engineering professionals who have built rewarding careers in STEM.

Whether you’re passionate about education, engineering, or giving back to your community, this is a simple and rewarding way to make a difference.

PLEASE NOTE that this event is not meant for school-aged children. If you are interested in organising a Bridges to Schools session please visit www.fletcherconstruction.co.nz/bts.

REGISTER TO ATTEND AT: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/bridges-to-schools-help-shape-bright-futures/hamilton

18/05/2026

Our second year Thermodynamics students had the opportunity to visit the Tauhara Geothermal Power Station to connect the theories they've been learning to real world applications.

30/04/2026

Keegan Hall, one of our PhD Graduates, has been doing great work helping to protect our sportsmen's.... assets. ;)

Hit the link to see more!

https://www.waikato.ac.nz/news-events/news/waikato-grad-protects-crickets-most-sensitive-spot/

29/04/2026

Balasubramanian Elankumaran, one of our Engineering PhD students, will be heading back to Hamilton soon after successfully completing physical shake table testing with his model tank at UC.

The tank was funded by QuakeCORE and Bala by the NZ Society for Earthquake Engineering scholarship for this testing. Bala was also awarded the judges’ winner of the NZGS Young Geotechnical Professionals Waikato-Bay of Plenty meeting last year, the funding from which he has been able to use towards the consumables for this testing.

His work examines how pumiceous sand behaves during earthquakes and how ground improvement methods like gravel drains wrapped with geotextiles can help to reduce the effects of liquefaction. To better understand this, physical shake table experiments have been carried out at UC to simulate a gravel drain installed within plain sands and pumiceous sands. The soil response was monitored during a sequence of simulated earthquake motions comparable to those that could be felt in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty areas.