Fire safety expert named academy fellow

A lifetime of fire safety and civil engineering research has led to a fellowship with the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering for The University of Queensland’s Professor José Torero.

Professor Torero, UQ’s Head of School of Civil Engineering, is an international leader in fire safety engineering, and in particular on fire safety in complex environments such as mines, tunnels and tall buildings.

Professor Torero said it was a great honour to be named a fellow of the Academy.

“The fellow status will not only allow me to engage with truly prominent people in Australia, but to promote the field of fire safety engineering that has for many years lacked recognition,” Professor Torero said.

UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said the fellowship acknowledged Professor Torero’s exceptional contributions to architectural, structural, aerospace and environmental practices around the world.

“Professor Torero has not only influenced fire safety engineering here in Australia, but used his expertise to reach a global audience,” Professor Høj said.

“He has taken part in many international projects designed to increase safety and inform engineering methods, including a current project with Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and China’s Tianjin University to study ongoing subsurface fires, a very significant environmental concern worldwide.

“Professor Torero is an excellent example of UQ’s aim to translate research into solutions for some of the world’s toughest problems.”

Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology Executive Dean Professor Simon Biggs congratulated Professor Torero on the recognition.

“Professor Torero has made a significant impact on both industry practices and engineering education,” he said.

“His influence has extended beyond the standard infrastructure and engineering fields to those of sanitation, food security and bio-engineering.”

An independent body of respected Australian engineers and scientists whose careers demonstrably benefit society through positive impact the academy extends fellowship to those who have used technological innovation to benefit society.

The academy welcomed 25 new fellows this year.

More than 130 UQ staff (including honorary and adjunct appointments) and professors emeriti are fellows of Australia’s learned academies, which include the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and the Australian Academy of the Humanities. A list of those fellows is available here.

Media: Communications Officer Madelene Flanagan, + 61 7 3365 8525 or m.flanagan@uq.edu.au