William Powrie has been honoured for his services to engineering, having worked in both the education and research sectors.
His research has primarily focused on sustainable waste management and resilient, low-maintenance transport infrastructure, particularly for railways.
He is the author of the internationally-acclaimed textbook Soil Mechanics: Concepts and Applications, which is now in its third edition.
“Despite the bad things that often get the most attention in the media, most people want to do what they can to make the world a better place.
“Usually this is without any special recognition, so I feel hugely honoured and fortunate.
“I’m also very grateful for the consistent and unstinting support of friends and family, so the award is for them too.
“I have worked with many colleagues, who have supported my endeavours, and I’d like to see this award as being as much for them as for me.”
William has served as chair of Defra’s technologies advisory committee for their demonstrator programme for new technologies for treatment of biodegradable municipal solid waste.
He is also the chair of the HS2 Independent Geotechnical Expert Pane, having carried out technical reviews for Network Rail HS1 and HS2.
William currently leads a new hub aimed at realising the health benefits of the transition to net zero transport.
Alongside his work, which has included several different roles at the University of Southampton, William is an organist at St Edwards church Netley.
