The WEMDCD Alessandro Costabeber Best Student Paper Award

The WEMDCD Alessandro Costabeber Best Student Paper Award has been established in the WEMDCD 2021 edition in memory of Alessandro Costabeber, for the valued, supportive and fair supervision he has always provided at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Alessandro was a tremendously valued colleague and his work ethic was very strong regardless of whether he was doing research or teaching. He was supremely talented at both with a strong portfolio of imaginative research and a collection of teaching prizes.

The WEMDCD Alessandro Costabeber Best Student Paper Award will be assigned up to three technical papers, for outstanding technical contribution and competence displayed in a poster presented at WEMDCD. Orally-presented papers and keynote papers are not eligible.

The first prize will consist of 500 Euro which will be granted by the Industrial Electronics/Industry Application/Power Electronics North Italy Section Jt Chapter. The second and third prizes will consist of 300 Euro and 200 Euro respectively, and they will be granted by the MDPI Machines journal.

Student paper submissions require the first author to be a student or an early career researcher who has been awarded the PhD not earlier than July 2023 included. Only the papers presented by the first author are eligible.

The awards will be granted during the WEMDCD closing ceremony.

Women in Transport Best Student Paper Award

One of WEMDCD’25 main goals is to promote a better gender balance in the automotive industry and academia. In a field characterised by significant gender disparities, addressing this challenge is of paramount importance. The creation of fair and inclusive work and educational environments is fundamental to promoting greater representation of women and ensuring that the talents and abilities of all individuals, regardless of gender, are properly recognized and utilised.

To this end, WEMDCD’25 edition proposes the Women in Transport Best Student Paper Award to be assigned to one technical paper, for outstanding technical contribution and competence displayed in a paper presented at WEMDCD. Participation to selection requires the author to be a female student or female early career researcher who has been awarded the PhD not earlier than July 2023 included. 

The awarded student or early career researcher will be invited as a Speaker at the 2025 edition of Summer School – Women in Transport of MUNER – The Motorvehicle University of Emilia Romagna which will be held in Bologna in July 2025. The Summer School is endorsed by the MUNER Gender and Diversity Empowerment Committee and by the Women in Transport EU platform. Travel & accommodation expenses up to 500 Euro will be covered, thanks to the personal contribution provided by Dr. Rupert Cruise.

The award will be granted during the WEMDCD closing ceremony.