2025 RILEM Colonnetti medallists

Each year, RILEM assigns up to two Gustavo Colonnetti Medals to researchers under 35 years old who have performed high-level scientific research in the field of construction materials and structures. For this medal, already being a member of the Association is not a requirement.

The medal jury for 2025 was composed of: TAC Deputy Chair Prof. Daman K. Panesar (University of Toronto, Canada), Materials and Structures Editor-in-Chief Prof. Giovanni Plizzari (University of Brescia, Italy), Chair of TC 296-ECS and Bureau member Prof. Sylvia Kessler (University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Germany), and EAC Member and TC Chair of 282-CCL Prof. Fernando Martirena (Universidad Central de las Villas, Cuba).

For the 2025 Gustavo Colonnetti medals, 41 applications were received.

The two 2025 Gustavo Colonnetti medals are awarded to Dr Dengwu Jiao and Dr Fragkoulis Kanavaris.

Currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at City University of Hong Kong, China, Dr Dengwu Jiao has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to research and innovation. After earning his PhD from Ghent University in Belgium, Prof. Jiao has focused his research on controlling the rheology of cement-based materials, including the use of magnetic fields, to design optimized mixtures for 3D concrete printing. His work bridges fundamental science and practical application, making significant advancements in the field. Prof. Jiao’s active involvement in RILEM underscores his dedication to the scientific community. He is or has been actively involved into four RILEM Technical Committees: 317-ACP (Active Control of Properties of Fresh and Hardening Cementitious Materials), 305-PCC (Pumping of Concrete), 303-PFC (Performance Requirements and Testing of Fresh Printable Cement-based Materials) and 266-MRP (Measuring Rheological Properties of Cement-based Materials). His commitment is further demonstrated by his role as a chapter leader in RILEM State-of-the-Art reports. The impact of Prof. Jiao’s research is evidenced by the relatively high number of citations his publications have received, highlighting their importance and relevance in the field.

Dr Fragkoulis Kanavaris is leader of a specialist discipline focused on concrete materials and decarbonisation within ARUP's Specialist Technology Analytics and Research unit, based in London, UK. The Colonnetti Medal is awarded to Dr. Kanavaris in recognition of his research activity in the development, understanding and evaluation of concrete materials and structures towards sustainability, serviceability, and durability. His outstanding work and leadership from the industry side features many and significant publications, including several papers in Materials and Structures (MS). He was the leading author of a study recognized in the 10 ‘Best Paper Award’ in MS in 2023. He has reinforced the role of the industry in RILEM activities through his participation in several RILEM TCs and by linking his work at ARUP with scientific activities, with the projects on transforming excavated London Clay to calcined clay and on interregional evaluation of concrete crack control approaches serving as prime examples. He has actively participated in standardization committees, with special emphasis on the sustainability of concrete. He has also actively participated and organized RILEM related activities, such as conferences and ROK&TOK webinars and serves as a TAC expert.