Professor Yi Min 'Mike' Xie, a prominent figure in engineering and an alumnus of Swansea University, has been recognized for his contributions to the field. Currently serving as a Professor at Hohai University in China and as an Emeritus Professor at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia, Professor Xie is known for his pioneering work in evolutionary structural optimisation (ESO) and bi-directional ESO (BESO) methods. These techniques have significantly influenced how engineers and architects design sustainable structures worldwide.
Professor Xie's academic journey began with a bachelor's degree in engineering mechanics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 1984. He later completed his PhD in computational mechanics at Swansea University, where his research laid the groundwork for his successful career. He is one of the most cited researchers in his field, with over 41,000 citations.
In recognition of his contributions, he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 2011. The following year, he founded the RMIT Centre for Innovative Structures and Materials. His accolades include prestigious awards such as the AGM Michell Medal and Clunies Ross Innovation Award in 2017, Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation in 2020, and Sir John Holland Civil Engineer of the Year title in 2022. In 2019, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Throughout his career, Professor Xie has collaborated with leading companies like Arup and Boeing to apply his research to practical challenges.