SUT’S Gwyn Griffiths Underwater Robotics Award Winner Announced: Nominations now for 2022
Operator demand was what stimulated Aleksandra Tomaszek, the winner of the inaugural Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) Gwyn Griffiths Underwater Robotics Award 2021, to become interested in robotics.
The inaugural award received high-caliber international nominations, with Aleksandra Tomaszek, COO and Co-Founder of Aberdeen-based 1CSI selected as the 2021 winner
Gwyn Griffiths MBE, a Past President of the SUT explained the judges’ selection:
“Aleksandra’s achievements, drive and business acumen make her a most worthy winner. What stands out is her strong background in offshore project engineering and management, coupled with a mind tuned to the sometimes elusive combination of technology and business innovation.
“Those personal attributes led her to the design, development, and introduction of the revolutionary TIAMAT ROV-mounted ultrasonic testing tool to meet client needs, with a vision to change the face of subsea ultrasonic inspection: a truly inspirational winner!”
Nominations for the 2022 Gwyn Griffiths Underwater Robotics Award are now sought with full details at www.sut.org/gwyn-griffiths-underwater-robotics-award-ggura/. The award recognises people in the early to mid stages of their career (and under 40 years old) who have made outstanding contributions to their field in underwater robotics. The award may be for industry/commercial, research and/or creative activity in underwater robotics. The winner receives £500, a certificate, and an engraved award.
About the 2021 winner and her interest in robotics
Aleksandra Tomaszek, who at 1CSI is responsible for leading the company’s business operations globally, executing its business strategy, and ensuring operational excellence, explained how her interest in robotics was stimulated:
“Following time with Balmoral Offshore Engineering overseeing the design and manufacture of deep-water products; I then spent three years at Oceaneering where my role involved the worldwide deployment of leading-edge subsea inspection technology using remote vehicles, it was where I met my business partner Matthew Kennedy – who developed a subsea scanner in 2009.I found my time there to be fascinating and exciting – it drew me in and made me wish to develop more methodical and effective approaches to the assessment of underwater asses.
“We were just finishing a project when the operator in question approached us looking for an inspection solution for another of their assets. At the time there was nothing that could be done with the existing technology. That made me think: ‘What if we had a clean sheet of paper, time, and the resources required? How amazing it would be to create something new!’
“The opportunity arrived when we left Oceaneering and set up 1CSI Ltd in early 2017. Driven by operator demand and the desire to create applicational solutions we sought and received government grant funding to design and develop the TIAMAT™.