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BARBARA ROSSI: AMBASSADOR OF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY IN OXFORD
“I believe in the power of positive and friendly leadership to drive efficient and meaningful change,” said Professor Barbara Rossi after receiving the Bev Waugh Award from the Institution of Civil Engineers on 16 October 2023 in London. Who is this passionate scholar who combines top research on metal structures with an unbridled commitment to diversity and equality? A portrait.
Barbara may specialise in stainless steel and metal structures, but she is by no means an 'iron lady'. On the contrary, she is an active advocate for open dialogue who goes out of her way to make her work environment a happy place. That the Institution of Civil Engineers selected her for the Bev Waugh Award 2023 is therefore no coincidence. This award goes precisely to a leader who gently broadens the perspective of the team, leads with kindness, values the views of others, and constructively questions the status quo to create a peoplecentred 'best for project' culture.
Engineering Technology
Barbara graduates in 2003 as a civil engineer from the University of Liège. She immediately starts working at the giant steel producer ArcelorMittal nearby, the successor of the legendary Cockerill-Sambre. As a research engineer, she participates in the development of new products including a long-span composite steel-concrete floor, an achievement she is still proud of.
After two years, Barbara returns to the university, first as a research fellow and PhD student, then as a postdoctoral researcher, specialising in metal structures in general and the properties and behaviour of thin-walled stainless steel profiles in particular. She is able to alternate her PhD work with research stays abroad, at the University of Sydney and Imperial College London. It makes her dream of an international academic career.
In 2013, Barbara takes the first step and moves to KU Leuven. She becomes Associate Professor at De Nayer Campus, one of the six locations of the newly established Faculty of Engineering Technology. In addition to her teaching assignment, she leads a research group studying the structural behaviour of metal structures and the effects of corrosion. “Maintaining an acceptable level of reliability over the whole life-cycle of a structure, considering the possible material deterioration, is of paramount interest in the current context of sustainability”, Barbara says. At De Nayer Campus, she supervises four PhD students and one postdoc researcher.
Privilege
Four years ago, Barbara takes the decisive step to settle in the UK. There she works as an Associate Professor at the University Oxford.
“A godsend,” says Barbara. “And also an immense privilege to be able to collaborate with such brilliant young minds from all over the world.”
At Oxford, Barbara teaches Structural Design and Mechanics and lecture courses and practical classes in Engineering Science. She also leads the Sustainable Metal Structures Research Group. Barbara's research has been published in more than 80 papers and articles in peer-reviewed international journals and industry magazines.
Fellow
A particular part of Barbara's work at Oxford is her fellowship at New College. “Those who study at Oxford are affiliated to a college. There, students from different disciplines and cultures form a community which makes such a college a unique learning environment. At the New College, I am Tutorial Fellow for 40 undergraduates and Equality & Diversity Fellow. Students can come to me with all kinds of questions. I also help them study and practise the material. A rewarding task that gives me a lot of contentment.”
Furthermore, Barbara is also in charge of the sustainability aspects of the New College Gradel Quandrangles during the design and construction process, leading the team of this £60 million project in saving more than 50% of embodied carbon thanks to the use of eco-friendly materials and techniques.
Gender
Further noteworthy is Barbara's commitment as an EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) sub-committee member in her department supporting long-term gender diversity at postgraduate level in Engineering Science. There, she is also pushing for more women in STEM and in leadership positions. “At this point, we are in a transition period,” Barbara believes. “There is undeniably a positive evolution going on in the engineering world, but the unconscious biases are still there, precisely because they are so deeply rooted. This takes time, as well as relentless awarenessraising and education. And -not to mention- role models who can pave the way as shining examples.”
