A technical talk exploring the design of Fern, the world’s first post‑tensioned bronze dinosaur, highlighting key challenges and innovations

This event brings together three engaging presentations exploring real-world earthquake engineering missions across recent global disasters. Speakers share first-hand experiences from hybrid and in-person reconnaissance efforts, highlighting how engineers assess damage, use advanced tools, and collaborate in high-pressure environments. From field observations in Türkiye and Morocco to reflections on career pathways and technical applications, the session offers valuable insights into disaster response, resilience, and the evolving role of engineers in humanitarian contexts.

Image credit: ©The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London webres

In person at Systra, Floor 5, Alpha Tower, Suffolk St Queensway, Birmingham, B1 1TT.

Light refreshments from 17:30.

To join the live stream, use the TEAMS meeting details. Live streaming will start from 18:00.

To join the live stream, use the TEAMS meeting details.

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/336088753046687?p=ulvbNtEP5M4jqiM55c (https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/336088753046687?p=ulvbNtEP5M4jqiM55c)

Meeting ID: 336 088 753 046 687

Passcode: hg9PJ7iX

Please note: Eventbrite does not publish the meeting joining link when sending out automated alerts, so participants will need to make a note of the link manually.

Contacts:

Alfred Gand | Chair | Midland Regional Hub of IStructE | midlandshub.chair@outlook.com

Speaker

Max Clayton | Associate | Structure Workshop

Max leads a design team at Structure Workshop, with a particular focus on innovative structures and low carbon design.

His recent work includes the pioneering use of timber and structural stone at Mansfield College, Oxford, and leading the design of Fern, a life-size cast bronze replica of the famous ‘Dippy’ specimen, now permanently displayed at the Natural History Museum.

Max’s technical skills have been recognised with the Nethercot Prize in 2024 for his paper on the engineering of Fern. His retrofit project Yorkton Workshops won the Architect’s Journal Retrofit of the Year Award 2021 and he was shortlisted for the Young Structural Engineering Professional Award 2021

Description supplied by the event organiser.