The French scientist and designer, an eminent bridge specialist, was awarded an honorary doctorate by our university during the Wrocław University of Science and Technology Day. This is in recognition of Prof. Michel Virlogeux's outstanding achievements in the field of bridge engineering, including the development of the scientific basis for the design of suspension bridges, and his services to Wrocław University of Science and Technology.

Professor Virlogeux accepted the award with great modesty: - „I am honoured because I am just a bridge designer and an engineer who teaches bridge design and construction,' he said at the ceremony.  - 'The creation and erection of bridges is a very narrow field of our civilisation, a specific part of architecture, but very important for the quality of life in the region where they are erected, as well as for communication and transport in our communities”.

The scientist is the creator and designer of some of the most outstanding engineering works of the last quarter of a century. He set the directions for the development of bridge engineering and created the principles of safe design. He is a person recognised in the world not only in the engineering community. He works with the Polish bridge community, in particular with the Department of Roads, Bridges, Railways and Airports at Wrocław University of Science Technology.

Professor Michel Virlogeux consults on non-standard designs of bridges under construction in Poland, e.g. the viaduct over the A1 in Milówka or the extradosed road bridge over the Odra River in Kostrzyn, which is currently being designed.

He has worked with the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Warsaw University of Technology for many years. He has twice been a guest of our university, delivering key papers during the proceedings of the scientific and technical seminar Wrocław Bridge Days (in 2010 and 2013).