Ben Pilkington

Feature Writer

B.A. (Hons) English Language and Literature, M.St. English Language and Literature

Ben Pilkington is a freelance writer who is interested in society and technology. He enjoys learning how the latest scientific developments can affect us and imagining what will be possible in the future.

Since completing graduate studies at Oxford University in 2016, Ben has reported on developments in computer software, the UK technology industry, digital rights and privacy, industrial automation, IoT, AI, additive manufacturing, sustainability, and clean technology.

Ben is happiest on a bicycle, loves sleeping in a tent or under the stars, and can’t function properly without coffee.

See less

Articles from Ben

What is Transparent Wood?

Transparent wood has been gaining traction recently as an advanced functional material that could replace glass and plastic in consumer applications. According to a recent life cycle assessment study, transparent wood may offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional optical mater

28 Oct 2022

Exploring Circular Principles with a Waste-Based Dome

A research team in Switzerland recently constructed a geodesic dome made out of demolition waste to show how construction could become more sustainable by applying circular economy principles to waste and using digital technologies to facilitate this.

25 Oct 2022

How is IoT Used in Building Automation?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a technology concept that puts “smart” functionality – computer processing and wireless connectivity – into objects so that they can be monitored and read by machines. In construction, IoT enables automation and makes projects more efficient, better managed, and less

29 Sep 2022

Do Fluid Viscous Dampers Between Adjacent Buildings Work Safely?

Fluid viscous dampers were first developed in the 1960s by NASA engineers, but have since found numerous civil engineering applications around the world. Viscous dampers can help protect structures from strong winds, pedestrian and car traffic loads (on bridges), and earthquakes.

28 Sep 2022

How to Offset Carbon While Building

Construction is one of the leading industry emitters of carbon emissions. However, there are ways to reduce this footprint and offset the carbon cost of construction projects, which can lead to as much as a 90% reduction in a project’s net carbon costs.

13 Sep 2022

Developing Construction Boards from Waste Products

A new generation of recycled, environmentally friendly building materials is now coming to the fore in response to the challenge of a growing population and increasing climate concerns, including construction boards made from waste products.

23 Aug 2022

Can Hemp Rebar be Useful in Construction?

Researchers at a private university in the USA recently announced that they were developing a hemp rebar product that could replace steel rebar in construction projects.

9 Aug 2022

What is Algae-Grown Limestone?

A new research project led by Colorado University (CU) Boulder engineers has developed a carbon neutral – and potentially even carbon negative – cement production method that uses microalgae to capture and sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

21 Jul 2022

Retrofitting Buildings to Reduce Carbon

A modular carbon-neutral housing retrofit startup, ecoworks, has recently raised $7.7 million in private funding to deliver its carbon-free retrofitting project for existing residential buildings.

11 Jul 2022

The Sustainable Utilization of Wood in Construction

Analysts have calculated that utilizing wood in 80% of new residential building projects in Europe alone would absorb 55 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). This would effectively halve the CO2 annual emissions caused by the construction industry in Europe.

22 Jun 2022