Solving problems

Martin Perez Cenit, intern at InnoRenew CoE

Main area(s) of research/activities: Civil Enginering School; Company: Refurbishment of social housing; InnoRenew CoE: Deconstructable TCC connections

Where were you living in childhood and where do you live now?

I spent my childhood in the north of France and at the age of 14, I moved to the Paris region. Now, with the work-study course, I live between the Paris region and North of France (Lille).

What have you studied and what were the motives for your decision?

I am finishing my 4^th year of civil engineering at CESI, an engineering school. At the same time, I am working as an apprentice site manager on a social housing renovation site. I have always liked building or creating and renovating things, so I decided to go in this sector.

How would you describe your work to someone outside your field?

My job is to supervise the work site, ensuring that deadlines, quality and safety are met. I am the bridge between the workers and the customers. More generally, I study everything to do with civil engineering (buildings, bridges, roads, wind turbines, etc.). This may involve design, structure, pricing or geotechnics. At InnoRenew, I am working on the connection between a concrete slab and a timber slab (TCC: Timber-Concrete-Composite, with Cross Laminated Timber) and specifically on removable and reusable connections.

What does your typical working day look like?

At InnoRenew I don’t have a typical working day. Some days, I arrive the morning and read scientific article to learn important information for my project. Sometimes, I work on calculations and do tests. Once a week, I help a PhD student (Donya Bazyar) or my supervisor (Mohammad Derikvand) to carry out tests on finger joints for a company.

When I am in school, I start at 8.30 in the morning, and we work on our group project. Five times a week we have a 4-hour lecture or workshop (exercise) on the different concepts we need to learn for our project. We finish at 5.30 in the afternoon.

In the company I start at 7.30 in the morning, welcoming the workers, giving them the important information for the day. Then I go out to the work site to check everything and answer any questions. Following I check my emails. Once a week I take part in meetings with clients and architects. In the afternoon, I go to the work site again, and I finish the day by preparing the rest of the project and ordering things.

What makes you excited about your work?

I want to learn as many new things as possible, and solve problems.

And what is the biggest challenge at your work?

Solving problems.

Which scientist or scientific achievement are you fascinated by and why?

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio : He was the first person to write the first major theoretical book on architecture and civil engineering known in Antiquity. In it, we discover the first major concepts of architecture (strengh, usability), materials, constructions techniques, town planning, etc.

Tell us about the work of art (books, music, movies, theatre, dance, visual arts) that has a special place in your life.

I don’t like many of art work because they are too abstract for me. But if I have to choose, maybe music or movies.

What have you read, listened to, or watched lately?

Top Gun, Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra

Which place on the Slovene coast do you like the most?

The hills, with their great views of the surrounding area.

What makes you enthusiastic?

A good rugby match, hiking or seeing wild animals.

Characterize your life’s guidance or an important realization (or epiphany) you have experienced.

Choosing your own values. Thinking about what is important to us, without taking other people’s expectations into account. Not staying in our comfort zone but leaving it to discover many things, even if it’s wrong or with doubts.