Swansea University has conferred an Honorary Award upon internationally renowned engineer and distinguished alumnus, Professor Yi Min Xie, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of structural optimisation and engineering innovation.
Professor Yi Min ‘Mike’ Xie is currently a Professor at Hohai University in China and an Emeritus Professor at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia. A pioneer in his field, Professor Xie has played a central role in the development of evolutionary structural optimisation (ESO) and bi-directional ESO (BESO) methods—techniques that have transformed the way engineers and architects design efficient and sustainable structures across the globe.
Professor Xie began his academic journey with a bachelor’s degree in engineering mechanics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 1984, before completing his PhD in computational mechanics at Swansea University. His doctoral research laid the foundation for a career that has seen him become one of the most highly cited researchers in his discipline, with over 41,000 citations to date.
In 2011, he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. The following year, he established the RMIT Centre for Innovative Structures and Materials, further cementing his leadership in the field. His achievements have been recognised with numerous prestigious honours, including the AGM Michell Medal and the Clunies Ross Innovation Award in 2017, the Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation in 2020, and the title of Sir John Holland Civil Engineer of the Year in 2022. In 2019, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to higher education and civil engineering.
Throughout his career, Professor Xie has collaborated with leading global companies such as Arup and Boeing, applying his research to real-world challenges and innovations.
On receiving the honorary award, Professor Xie said: “I am extremely honoured and humbled to receive this Award from my alma mater. Swansea University provided me with an exceptional education, equipping me with the knowledge and skills to pursue my dreams and make a meaningful contribution to society.”