Two UBC Okanagan School of Engineering professors have received prestigious national honours from the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE), recognizing their contributions to research, innovation and the advancement of the profession. The awards were presented during the 2026 CSCE Annual Conference in Québec City.
Dr. Shahria Alam awarded Horst Leipholz Medal
Dr. Shahria Alam with CSCE President Dr. Jeff Rankin (right).
Dr. Shahria Alam, Professor and Tier 1 Principal’s Research Chair in Resilient and Green Infrastructure, has received the CSCE Horst Leipholz Medal.
The award recognizes outstanding contributions to engineering mechanics research and practice in Canada and is one of the society’s highest honours in the field.
An internationally recognized leader in resilient infrastructure, Alam has authored more than 500 peer-reviewed publications and has helped shape national and international engineering standards. His research focuses on sustainable and resilient infrastructure systems, with applications ranging from seismic resilience to advanced construction materials.
Beyond his research contributions, Alam serves as Director of UBC Okanagan’s Green Construction Research and Training Centre and previously served as Vice President, Technical Programs, and Chair of the Engineering Mechanics & Materials division with CSCE. He is also a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering.
Dr. Alam’s reflection
“Receiving the Horst Leipholz Medal is a tremendous honour and meaningful recognition of my career. Named after Professor Horst Leipholz, whose pioneering work shaped engineering mechanics in Canada, this award represents excellence in research, practice, and leadership in our profession.
I share this honour with my students, postdoctoral fellows, colleagues, collaborators, and industry partners, whose dedication and support have been integral to our collective achievements. Throughout my career, I have strived to bridge research and practice to develop safer, more resilient, and sustainable infrastructure while mentoring the next generation of engineers.
I am also deeply honoured to join the distinguished group of past recipients whose contributions have advanced engineering mechanics and structural dynamics nationally and internationally. This recognition reflects not only my own efforts but also the support and guidance of my mentors, former teachers, and supervisors, whose wisdom and encouragement helped shape my academic and professional journey. I remain profoundly grateful for their lasting influence. I am especially grateful to my family, whose love, patience, and support have been instrumental in this journey.
I sincerely thank the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering and the Engineering Mechanics and Materials Division for this recognition. I accept this award with humility, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to advancing our profession and contributing to society through engineering excellence.”
Watch Dr. Alam’s award presentation.
Dr. Qian Chen receives Young Professional Engineer Award
Dr. Qian Chen with CSCE President Dr. Jeff Rankin.
Dr. Qian Chen, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, has received the CSCE Young Professional Engineer Award.
Presented annually, the award recognizes a CSCE member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments as a young professional engineer.
Chen leads UBC Okanagan’s Construction Integration and Digitalization (CID) Lab, where her research focuses on advancing digital construction technologies, automation and robotics. A defining contribution of her research program is the development of DIRFIC (Digital Integration for Robotic Fabrication in Construction), a multi-axial cyber-physical robotic fabrication platform dedicated to the mass customization of buildings.
Her work is helping to advance innovation in industrialized construction, digital fabrication and circular economy approaches in the built environment. In addition to her research leadership, Chen is actively involved in initiatives that support women and underrepresented groups in engineering and contributes to knowledge sharing through professional organizations including Canadian Society for Civil Engineering and the International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction.
Dr. Chen’s reflection
“Receiving the CSCE Young Professional Engineer Award is both an honour and a reflection of the incredible people, including my students, colleagues and mentors, who I’ve had the opportunity to work with throughout my journey. This recognition is especially meaningful because it highlights not only just a personal contribution but also the dedication and success of my student trainees who have supported and strengthened my research program. Their curiosity, hard work, and commitment to learning new things have been a constant source of my motivation and inspiration.
Engineering research and practices are never an individual effort, and I have learned that it grows through collaboration, mentorship, and shared ambition. I’m extremely grateful to my mentors, colleagues, and students for contributing to a supportive environment where ideas can thrive and meaningful impact can be created for our community.
I’m proud to represent the values of innovation and perseverance in my school, the whole professional society like CSCE and beyond, that continue to shape my career ahead. I hope this recognition encourages everyone especially young engineers and researchers to stay curious about challenges and new solutions in construction and civil engineering, and believe in the value of teamwork in building a better future.”
School of Engineering celebrates Dr. Alam and Dr. Chen
“These honours reflect the distinct and considerable impacts Drs. Alam and Chen are creating through their research leadership and service,” says Dr. Will Hughes, Director of the School of Engineering.
“In addition to elevating our School, their good work is helping to advance knowledge, strengthen industry practice and inspire the next generation of engineers at the national level. We are proud to see them recognized by their peers across Canada.”
About the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering
The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering is the national learned society of the civil engineering profession in Canada and annually recognizes individuals whose work has made significant contributions to engineering research, practice and leadership.