Luc Girompaire Honored: Margaret Law Award Ceremony and Celebration of Excellence in Fire Safety!
On February 12, 2025, Luc Girompaire, a doctoral candidate, presented his master’s research project to the team at the prestigious engineering firm Arup, in Australia and Asia. This event aimed to highlight the winners of the 2024 Margaret Law Award, an internationally renowned distinction that recognizes excellence in fire safety engineering research for graduate students. Luc was honored to place third in this competition, a remarkable achievement that reflects the quality and impact of his work. His presentation focused on fire dynamics in mass timber compartments, a critical subject in the design of modern buildings using bio-based materials. Through his research, Luc aims to develop an analytical model to better understand fire behavior in these structures, with the goal of improving fire safety measures and reducing risks in urban environments.
The Margaret Law Award ceremony, held on March 13, 2025, was a valuable moment to celebrate not only academic and scientific excellence but also the growing importance of fire safety in modern architecture, particularly in mass timber constructions. It was also an ideal opportunity for members of the academic and professional network to gather, exchange ideas, and discuss the latest advancements in fire safety. The ceremony provided a conducive environment for collective reflection, fostering collaboration among researchers, engineers, and practitioners in the field.
During the award ceremony, Audrey Roy-Poirier, fire safety expert at Arup, spoke to share her experience and knowledge on the challenges and innovative solutions in fire safety, particularly in buildings using bio-based materials. Her insights helped illuminate the latest industry practices and innovations, emphasizing the crucial role of engineering in managing fire-related risks. Furthermore, Luc Girompaire and Antony Beaulieu, both graduate students at the CRMR and supervised by Christian Dagenais, invited professor and lead scientist at FPInnovations, presented their respective research. Their work not only contributes to developing new approaches to improving fire safety but also enhances the visibility of CRMR and FFGG on the international stage. This event also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the academic world and industry to address the complex challenges related to the safety of mass timber infrastructures.
From left to right: Luc Girompaire and Audrey Roy-Poirier
The event thus marked a turning point in the international recognition of fire safety research, highlighting the contributions of the next generation of scientists and the role of researchers in the evolution of safer and more sustainable practices for modern architecture.
A huge thank you to Christian Dagenais for not only making this ceremony possible but also for creating an environment conducive to the promotion of innovative fire safety research!