Awards and Prizes

The Sir Robert Easton Award commemorates the life and legacy of former Institution President Sir Robert Easton (1930-2001) , one of Scotland's foremost  shipbuilders, industrialists and engineering leaders, whose strategic stewardship preserved a nationally significant engineering and naval industrial base on the Clyde. 

As Chairman and Managing Director of Yarrow Shipbuilbers Ltd, Sir Robert guided the Clyde shipbuilding industry through one of its most challenging periods, safeguarding the engineering excellence, industrial capability and sovereign shipbuilding expertise that continue today on the River Cyde through BAE Systems. Under his leadership Yarrow remained internationally recognised for the design and construction of advanced naval vessels, strengthening the United Kingdom's sovereign maritime capability and supporting the Royal Navy and allied fleets in protecting international trade, safeguarding freedom of navigation and maintaining maritime security across successive generations.

The engineering capability sustained during his tenure supported generations of Royal Navy and allied vessels that safeguarded freedom of navigation, protected internatinal trade, delivered humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, supported search and rescue, strengthened international cooperation and maintained maritime security across the world's oceans these vessels also served with distinction during the Falklands War and in coalition maritime operations in the Arabian Gulf, including those associated with the liberation of Kuwait. His legacy reflects the enduring contribution of Scottish engineering to national resilience, international cooperation and the protection of the maritime lifelines upon which communities, economies and humanitarian responses depend.

Beyond shipbuilding, Sir Robert served as Chairman of the Clyde Port Authority, Glasgow Development Agency, West of Scotland Water Authority and Caledonian MacBrayne, reflecting a career dedicated to engineering excellence, industrial leadership and public service. He served as President of the Instutuion of Engineers in Scotland from 1997-1999, championing the engineering profession and its contributioon to society.

Established by the Institution in 2012, the Sir Robert Easton Award recognises Institution members whose sustained professional achievement, leadership and service have made an enduring contribution to engineering and its application in advancing industry, society and the public good.

The award is not presented annually but is conferred only when Council determines that an individual's contribution is of truly exceptional distinction.

2018

Prof Gordon Masterton

A Civil Engineer whose leadership transformed the application of engineering evidence to national infrastructure, public policy, strategic thinking and engineering education, strengthening long-term national resilience and capability

2018

Prof Iain MacLeod

A Structural Engineer whose contributions advanced structural engineering, engineering education, systems thinking and the integration of engineering evidence into infrastructure resilience, future capability, and the evolution of engineering practice.

2016

David Watson

A chemical engineer with an impressive career at the top levels in the oil and gas industry. Engineering Education, public engagement and the development of Scotland’s future scientific and technological capability.

2014

Ian Ramsay

Shipbuilding, naval engineering, maritime safety, international development and service to Scotland’s engineering institutions.

2012

Harry D Osborn

International civil and marine engineering, strategic port infrastructure, community service and long-standing institutional leadership.

2012

William S Ross

Nuclear power, railway engineering, international infrastructure and distinguished service to the Institution

Extract from the Report of the Council, Session 1941-42: Through the generosity of the family of the late Mr. W. W. Marriner, the Institution established the WW MarrinerPremium to recognise papers of outstanding merit presented before the Institution. ordinarily representing the Institution's highest distinction for technical papers, the Council may additionally award a Gold Medal where a paper is judged to be of exceptional distinction.

2004-2005

Peter L Fraenkel

Marine Current Turbines: Progress with Tidal Turbine Development

2002-2003

Prof John P Paul

Engineering Aspects of Joint Replacement Implants and Artificial Limbs

1999-2000

Dr S N Smith

Design and Operation of Floating Production Systems

1998-1999

Joh de Bruin

Modern Developments in Hopper Dredgers - a Contractor's Viewpoint

1997-1998

Andrew D Bailey

Fast Ferries

1996-1997

Robin C Reid

Forensic Engineering and Expert Evidence

1994-1995

Prof C D W Wilkinson

Nano Electronics

1993-1994

Dr Andrew Spyros

Oil Tankers and the Environment

1992-1993

John M Ferguson

Safety of Bulk Carriers

1980-1981

Murray S Easton

Advanced Outfitting Relating to Warship Construction

1978-1979

F R Harris

Recent Progress in the Design of Large Steam Turbines

1976-1977

D G M Watson & A W Gilfillan

Some Ship Design Methods

1975-1976

L Sinclair

Propellor Blade Strength

1974-1975

Marshall Meek

Operating Experiences of Large Container Ships

1972-1973

G R Todd

Performance of Modern Power Station Plant

1965-1966

J L Steward

The Role of the Accountant in a Shipyard

1964-1965

F G West

Practices and Developments in Off-Shore Oil Exploration and Production

1963-1964

N S Miller

The Accuracy of Numerical Integration in Ship Calculations

1962-1963

C C Pounder

Marine Diesel Engines: Some Comments on Current Trends

1961-1962

W Millen Adam

The Integration of Production, Costing and Financial Controls in General Engineering

1960-1961

H Lindgren

Cavitation Tunnel Tests with Merchant Ship Propellors

1959-1960

E G Russell Roberts

Refrigerating Plant for Very Large Marine Air Conditioning Installations

1958-1959

Cmdr E H W Platt

Modern Tanker Practice for Cargo Handling Equipment

1956-1957

J Paton & W G N Geddes

Civil Engineering Contributions to Shipbuilding

1955-1956

R M Kenedi, W Shearer Smith & F O Fahmy

Light Structures - Research and its Application to Economic Design

1954-1955

F T Barwell, A A Milne & J S Webber

Some Experiments on Oscillating Bearings

1953-1954

Prof A S T Thomson, Prof A W Scott, W Ferguson & H L McBroom

Some Factors in the Design and Lubrication of Journal Bearings

1952-1953

A R Mitchell

Tunnel Type Vessels

1951-1952

A E Fothergill

Vibrations in Marine Engineering

1951-1952

H Lackenby

On the Acceleration of Ships

1950-1951

N V Pestereff

Alternating Current Supplies for Auxiliary Plant on Board Ship

1949-1950

W P Walker

Tank Tests with Towboats and Barges in Deep and Shallow Water

1948-1949

W Heigh

Economy by Efficient Calculation

1946-1947

R Beeching

The Resistance to Cavitation Erosion of Propellor Alloys

1945-1946

H H Hagan

Shipyard Layout and Technique for Welded Construction

1943-1944

C S Lillicrap & C J G Jensen

Ship Structural Members - Part II

1942-1943

J L Adam

Developments in Welded Ship Construction

1941-1942

Dr G Hughes

Influence of the Shape of Blade Section on Singing of Propellors

For papers of exceptional merit.

1976-1977

H G MacDonald

Forth Tanker Berth for 250,000 Ton d.w.t. Tankers Loading North Sea Oil from B.P Forties Field

1961-1962

D G M Watson

Estimating Preliminary Dimensions in Ship Design

1956-1957

H Volpich & I C Bridge

Paddle Wheels

1898-1899

Prof Archibald Barr

Comparisons of Similar Structure and Machines

Awarded in recognition of the most distinguished engineering paper presented in the disciplines beyond the scope of the Marine and Railway Engineering Medals.

1888-1889

Prof Andrew Jamieson

The Designing of Continuous Current Dynamo Machines

1883-1884

Joseph Moore

Hydraulic Machinery for Deep Mining

1879-1880

John Thomson

The St Petersburg Water Works

1874-1875

Hector MacColl

The Strength of Cylindrical Boiler Shells

1869-1870

Peter Carmichael

On the Bursting of Two Steam Boilers by Hydraulic Pressure

1865-1866

James Robertson

Frictional Screw Motions and Applications

Awarded to the best paper on Marine Engineering.

1892-1893

Sinclair Couper

The Return Tubular Marine Boiler for High Pressures

1888-1889

Prof Philip Jenkins

The Stability of Oil Carrying Steamers

1883-1884

John Harvard Biles

The Stability of Ships at Launching

1881-1882

James Hamilton, Jun

The Comparative Commercial Efficiency of some Steam Ships

1877-1878

James Howden

The Action of the Screw Propellor

1874-1875

William Denny

The Difficulties of Speed Calculation

1865-1866

N Barnaby

The Connection of Iron and Steel Plates in Shipbuilding

Awarded to the best paper on Railway Engineering.

1890-1891

Thomas M Barr

The Renewal of Railway Viaducts and Bridges on the Northern Division of the Caledonian Railway, 1880-88

1884-1885

Andrew S Biggart

The Construction of the Great Tubes of the Forth Bridge and Sinking the Cylinders of the Tay Bridge by Pontoons

1881-1882

Charles Pullar Hogg

St. Enoch Railway Station

Originally awarded in recognition of exceptional merit presented before the Institution during the Session.

Originally the award was a premium of technical engineering books awarded for papers read during the session.

1997-1998

Alan A Mortimer

Power from the Wind

1996-1997

Donald Davidson

Water - The Scottish Dimension

1994-1995

J M Ferguson

Detail Design for Double Hull Tankers

1993-1994

Messrs Hornby, Abell & Plato

Explosives Handling Jetty - RNAD Coulport

1952-1953

Sir William Wallace

Experiences in the Stabilisation of Ships

1952-1953

D S Gordon

Instruments and Techniques in Vibration Research

1949-1950

W Lochridge

Fairfree - Fishing Vessel and Floating Factory Development

1949-1950

L Blake

T.S.S. Golfito - Gears

1949-1950

J Williamson

Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme: Pipes, Valves and Water-Control Gear

1946-1947

J M Murray

Longitudinal Bending Moments

1946-1947

K J Pascoe

Stresses and Deflections of Two Cargo Liners during Launching

1906-1907

Robert Royds

The Most Economical Mean Effective Pressure for Steam Engines

1906-1907

W L Spence

The Mechanism of Power Transmission from Electric Motors

1905-1906

H Norman Leask

Refuse Destructors

1905-1906

E M Speakman

The Determination of the Principal Dimensions of the Steam Turbine, with Special Reference to Marine Work

1904-1905

A Melencovich

Multiple Steam Turbines

1904-1905

Dr J Bruhn

Methods of Estimating the Strength of Ships

1903-1904

John J Johnston

The Uses of the Intergraph in Ship Calculations

1902-1903

Dr J Bruhn

Some Points in Connection with the Riveted Attachments in Ships

1902-1903

Konrad Andersson

Steam Turbines: With special reference to the De Laval Type of Turbine

1901-1902

J Foster King

Rudders

1901-1902

A Marshall Downie

The Design and Construction of Fly-Wheels for Slow-Speed Engines for Electric Lighting and Traction Purposes

1901-1902

William Brown

Dredging and Modern Dredge Plant

1900-1901

William Melville

City Union Railway Widening and Extension of St. Enoch's Station

1899-1900

David Cowan

Workshop Administration: With special reference to Tracking Work and Promptly Ascertaining Detailed Costs and Profits

1899-1900

A B McDonald

Glasgow Main Drainage

1898-1899

Prof John Oliver Arnold

The Internal Architecture of Metals

1898-1899

James Weir

The Problem of Combustion in Water-tube Boilers and a Means of its Solution

1898-1899

C A Matthey

The Mechanics of the Centrifugal Machine

1897-1898

G Gretchin

Notes on the Belleville Boilers of the T.S.S. 'Kherson'

1897-1898

F J Rowan

Water-Tube Boilers

1897-1898

Prof E J Mills

Photo-Surveying

1897-1898

T R Murray

The Theory and Practice of Mechanical Refrigeration

1896-1897

Nisbet Sinclair

Notes on the Estimation of the Power of Steamships at Sea, and of Feed-and Circulating-Water at Sea

1896-1897

Alexander Morton

The Maximum Elasticity and Density of Steam

1894-1895

W Carlile Wallace

Electrical Transmission of Power in Shipyards and on Board Merchant Steamers

1894-1895

James M Gale

The Extension of the Loch Katrine Water Works

1894-1895

Prof W H Watkinson

Water Tube Boilers

1893-1894

Alexander Morton

Rotatory and Re-action Engines

1893-1894

William Arnot

The Glasgow Corporation Electric Light Supply

1892-1893

W Carlile Wallace

Some Causes of Failure in Tunnel Shafting

1892-1893

John Barr

Testing Machinery and Electric Water Level Recording Apparatus

1890-1891

Henry A Mavor

The Development of Electric Distribution

1890-1891

John Laidlaw

Centrifugal Action in Practical Work

1890-1891

Prof Jamieson

The Electric Lighting of Public Buildings

1888-1889

Andrew Brown

Dredging and Dredging Appliances

1888-1889

Charles Lang

Evaporation

1886-1887

Gilbert M Hunter

Ailsa Craig Lighthouse, Oil Gas Work, and Fog Signal Machinery

1886-1887

Hector MacColl

The Shafting of Screw Steamers

1883-1884

Messrs Purvis & Kindermann

Approximations to Curves of Stability from Data for Known Ships

1883-1884

Robert L Weighton

The Compound Engine Viewed in its Economical Aspect