Six University of Cambridge students have reached the finals of the 2005 Science, Engineering & Technology (SET) Students of the Year Awards.

The awards are for outstanding undergraduates in a range of scientific and technological disciplines. To be eligible, students must be expected to achieve a First in their degree and be nominated by one of their lecturers.

Peter Winslow, 23, who has been shortlisted in the civil engineering category, has just completed a four-year MEng Civil Engineering degree course at Sidney Sussex College. His supervisor, Allan McRobie, nominated him for his project into ‘Aeroelasticity of Flexible Structures’, which examined wind engineering and bridge dynamics.

Peter said: “I feel honoured to have been nominated for such a prestigious award and to have reached the final shortlist. I hope that the SET awards will continue to be a source of inspiration for students of the future. I am now looking forward to staying in Cambridge to study for a PhD in structural engineering.”

Peter and the other finalists will now attend a gala dinner at London's Guildhall on Tuesday, 20 September, along with senior figures from industry, government, science and the media, where the winners will be announced. The winning student in each category will receive a trophy and £500. The highest-scoring student overall will receive an additional trophy and a cheque for a further £1,500.

The SET Awards (Science, Engineering & Technology Student of the Year) are Britain’s most important awards for science and technology undergraduates. Supported by British Industry, and Britain's leading scientific and technical institutions, the Awards are multidisciplinary to reflect the wide range of degrees UK universities offer.

The full list of Cambridge finalists is:

Institution of Civil Engineering Award for the Best Civil Engineering Student
Peter Winslow for ‘Aeroelasticity of Flexible Structures’

World Leadership Forum Award for the Best Economics Student
Minal Lavingia for ‘Economic Growth, Technology Choice and the Persistence of Old Technology’

World Leadership Forum Award for the Best Electronic Engineering Student
Rachel Trimble for ‘Electronic Windsock Display Module’
Pedro Yip for ‘Displacement Sensor with Optical Fibre Connection’

Institution of Electrical Engineers Award for the Best Information Technology Student
Michael Smith for ‘Semantics-directed Compiler Generation’

GKN Award for the Best Mechanical Engineering Student
Russell MacMillan for ‘Analysis and Automation of a DEFRA Blood Test Programme’

Photo shows Peter Winslow, shortlisted in the civil engineering category.

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