Prof. Surendra P. SHAH

Presidential Distinguished Professor Director, Center for Advanced Construction Materials University of Texas at Arlington.

Tentative Topic: Strategy for Carbon Conscious concrete

Prof. Surendra P. SHAH

Professor Surendra P. Shah is currently a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington, USA, a Distinguished Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India and the Walter P. Murphy Emeritus Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University, Chicago, USA. He was the founding director of the NSF Center for Advanced Cement-Based Materials. His research interest is connecting microscopic behavior to structural response of concrete. Distinguished for his seminal research on synthesizing engineering mechanics and material science, Professor Shah has made unique, original and extensive contributions to better understand and define properties of cement-based materials and developing new advanced materials which has become a world standard in these fields. He is responsible for developing high performance concrete, fibre reinforced concrete, self-consolidating concrete, shrinkage reducing admixtures, carbon nano-tube reinforced cement based composites and extrusion processing of concrete. These have revolutionized the way modern concretes are used worldwide. He has co-authored two books,  Fiber-reinforced cement composites (McGraw-Hill, 1992) and  Fracture mechanics of concrete: applications of fracture mechanics to concrete, rock and other quasi-brittle materials. (Wiley, 1995), and published more than 500 journal articles and edited more than 20 books. He is past editor-in-chief of RILEM's journal Materials and Structures. Dr. Shah is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Indian Academy of Engineering. He has received many awards including the Swedish Concrete Award, ACI Anderson Award, RILEM Gold Medal, ASTM Thompson Award, ASCE Charles Pankow Award, and Engineering News Record News Maker Award. He was named one the Most Influential People in the industry by Concrete Construction Magazine. He spent time as an honorary professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay through a Fulbright grant, and at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as a visiting member of the Institute of Advanced Studies.

Prof. Koji SAKAI

Founder, CONSEC conference series
Japan Sustainability Institute

Tentative Topic: What impacts did the CONSEC concept give on concrete technologies until today?

Prof. Koji SAKAI

Professor Koji Sakai is the Founder of CONSEC Conference series and representative of the Japan Sustainability Institute, which he founded following his 2014 retirement from Kagawa University in Japan. He remains as emeritus professor at Kagawa University, and is also a guest professor at Southeast University, Nanjing, China. Prof. Sakai founded the ACI Concrete Sustainability Forum, which began as workshop in 2008 and lasted until 2017; and also the International Conference on Concrete Sustainability in 2013. He has been the Founding Chair of ISO/TC 71/SC 8, the international technical committee for environmental management for concrete and concrete structures, since 2007. He has also been the Founding Chair of the Asian Concrete Federation’s Sustainability Forum since 2010. Prof. Sakai co-wrote a book "The Sustainable Use of Concrete," which was published by CRC Press, and won the Japan Society of Civil Engineers’ Book of the Year Award in 2013. He co-published a book "Sustainability Design of Concrete Structures" in 2016 by Gihodo Shuppan, to promote incorporation of the sustainability concept into the concrete/construction industries. These significant achievements became the basis for the ACI Honorary membership in 2017. He is also a life member of fib, in which he had been actively involved in the development of MC2010 and MC2020. The framework of performance-based sustainability design in MC2020 was developed by Prof. Sakai.

Prof. Liberato FERRARA

Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Tentative Topic: Material and process design in 3D Concrete Printing via AI driven experiments and modelling

Liberato FERRARA

Dr. Liberato Ferrara is a Professor of Structural Analysis and Design at Politecnico di Milano. He was a Fulbright visiting scholar at the Center for Advanced Cement-Based Materials at Northwestern University in Illinois, USA and an invited lecturer at Beijing Jiaotong University (People’s Republic of China) multiple times. Dr. Ferrara is the chair of the H2020 project ReSHEALience, “Rethinking coastal defence and Green-energy Service infrastructures through enHancEd-durAbiLity high-performance cement-based materials”. He has been responsible for the PoliMi research group in two EU-FP7 projects and coordinated bilateral scientific cooperation projects between Italy and South Korea, India, Israel and Germany. Dr. Ferrara has been an active member of several international committees within ACI and RILEM. He chaired the ACI TC 544-Fiber Reinforced Concrete, for which he received Delmar L Bloem Distinguished Service Award in 2020 for his outstanding leadership. His research interests span advanced cementitious composites, self-healing concrete, 3D printing with cementitious materials, and the sustainability of cement-based materials and structures. His work encompasses experimental research identifying material, physical, and mechanical properties, numerical modelling, and structural applications.

Prof. Jose Ivan ESCALANTE-GARCIA

CINVESTAV Saltillo, Mexico

Tentative Topic: Alkali activated binders based on precursors of limestone and recycled pulverized concrete

Prof. Jose Ivan ESCALANTE-GARCIA

Prof. Jose Ivan Escalante-Garcia is a Principal Researcher at Cinvestav (Center for Research and Advanced Studies) Campus Saltillo since 1997, where he is involved with the Ceramics Engineering and Sustainability of Natural Resources and Energy research groups. He is a distinguished member of the editorial boards for several leading journals, including Advances in Cement Research, Materiales de Construcción, Advances in Concrete Construction, Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials, and Revista Alconpat. His current research focuses on developing sustainable new cements, including supersulphated cements based on volcanic materials, hybrid cements incorporating volcanic materials, and novel alkali-activated limestone binders. His work is at the forefront of creating environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional cement, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of construction materials while enhancing their performance and durability.

Prof. Paolo GARDONI

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States

Tentative Topic: An Overview of Regional Risk (and Resilience) Analysis

Prof. Paolo GARDONI

Prof. Paolo Gardoni is the Alfredo H. Ang Family Professor and an Excellence Faculty Scholar in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is also a Professor in the Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering in the Grainger College of Engineering, a Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, and a Fellow and Faculty Scholar of the Office of Risk Management & Insurance Research in the Gies College of Business. Prof. Gardoni has several international courtesy appointments including at Loughborough University in the UK, the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) in India, and Tsinghua University, Tongji University, and Jianghan University in China.

Prof. Ippei MARUYAMA

The University of Tokyo, Japan

Tentative Topic: Performance evaluation of concrete under specific conditions for nuclear reactor buildings

Prof. Ippei MARUYAMA

Dr. Ippei Maruyama is a professor at The University of Tokyo. He is a visiting professor of the Museum at Nagoya University and of the Research Center for Green X-tech at Tohoku University. He earned his B.Eng. in 1998, M.Eng. in 2000 and Dr.Eng. in 2003 from The University of Tokyo. Before he joined The University of Tokyo, he was an assistant professor at Hiroshima University (2003-2005), associate professor (2005-2016) and professor (2016-2022) at Nagoya University.
He is a vice chair of the International Committee on Irradiated Concrete, the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, and an associate editor of Materials and Structures. He is leading several national projects relating to the aging management of concrete structures in nuclear power plants, the Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning process, calcium carbonate circulation system for construction, and the standardization of quantification methods for mineralized CO2 using cementitious materials.
His current research topics include atomic-scale studies of the colloidal nature of C-S-H, design of concrete structures, wood materials, radiation physics and chemistry for concrete, multi-scale modeling of concrete and concrete structures, and application of calcite concretion.

Prof. Robert MELCHERS

The University of Newcastle, Australia

Tentative Topic: Resilience of reinforced concrete structures in corrosive conditions

Prof. Robert MELCHERS

Prof. Robert Melchers is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Civil Engineering at The University of New Castle, Australia. Prof. Melchers is well-known for his pioneering research in steel and concrete corrosion in marine environments. He was the founding editor of the Australian Journal of Structural Engineering and a founding Principal of AMOG Consulting Pty Ltd. His contributions to the field have earned him numerous international awards, including the Engineers Australia John Connell Medal in 2013. He served as a member of the Independent Technical Review Committee for the Collins Class submarines with the Department of Defence in Australia and has been a regional editor for Ships and Offshore Structures since 1998. He was also the President of the International Civil Engineering Risk and Reliability Association (ICERRA) from 1988 to 2006 and a member of the Executive Committee for the International Association for Structural Safety and Reliability (IASSAR). His work addresses critical issues in the water industry, including the corrosion of mooring chains, wire ropes, and cast iron water pipes. In 2006, his corrosion models were adopted by the International Ship Structures Committee for assessing aged ship structures. His research has shed new light on the influence of bacteria, water pollution, and various environmental factors on corrosion. His innovative mathematical models offer new interpretations of corrosion statistics and predict corrosion events, aiding in resource planning and pipeline safety.

Prof. Stefano PAMPANIN

Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Tentative Topic: Next Generation of Integrated Low-Damage Precast Building Systems to Enhance Community Resilience and Sustainability

Prof. Stefano PAMPANIN

Prof. Stefano Pampanin is a full Professor of Structural Engineering at the Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering at La Sapienza University of Rome since 2014/2015. He was a Professor of Structural Design and Earthquake Engineering and Chair of the Structural and Geotechnical Cluster at the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, where he joined in 2002. He was also the president of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (2012- 2014) and was nominated as a fellow of NZSEE in 2017. His research mainly focuses on codification and practical implementation of innovative solutions for the seismic design of low- damage structural systems in concrete and timber and for the seismic assessment and retrofit of existing RC structures. He was actively involved in several national and international code and technical committees to prepare design guidelines and standards and has received numerous awards for his research activities.

Prof. Giovanni PLIZZARI

University of Brescia, Italy

Tentative Topic: Design Considerations,Experimental Testing, and Field Applications of HPFRC Reinforcement in Bridge Piers

Prof. Giovanni PLIZZARI

Prof. Giovanni Plizzari is Full Professor of Structural Engineering and is in service at the DICATAM Department of the University of Brescia (since November 2005). His research primarily focuses on the behavior of structures and advanced materials, particularly fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC). In this field, he organized several conferences and workshops. His work has explored the durability of reinforced concrete, addressing corrosion and cracking issues, and has extended to tunnel linings, industrial flooring, and structural rehabilitation. He has also contributed to the recycling as well as the use of low carbon materials for sustainable structural concrete. He has been recognized for his extensive contributions to the field. He has been a Fellow of the American Concrete Institute (ACI, since 2012), of the International Association of Fracture Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete Structures (FraMCoS, since 2013), of the International Association of structural concrete (fib, since 2021) and of the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (Rilem, since 2023). He recently received the Gold Medal from the International Association of structural concrete. Since 2024, he has been serving as Editor in Chief of the RILEM International Journal of Materials and Structures.

Prof. Manu SANTHANAM

IIT Madras, India

Tentative Topic: Sulphate Attack of Concrete – after 20 years of ‘whither’ing

Prof. Manu SANTHANAM

Prof. Manu Santhanam is a professor in the Building Technology Construction Materials and Management, Department of Civil Engineering and is currently Dean for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (ICSR), IIT Madras. He is active in various professional associations such as ACI, ICI, and RILEM and has been distinguished as a RILEM fellow in 2019. He is also a member of the Editorial Board in leading international journal on construction materials such as Advances in Cement Research, ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering (Associate Editor), Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials and Journal of Cement and Concrete Composites. His research domains cover cement chemistry and multi-scale characterization of concrete, including non-destructive testing, assessment of deterioration mechanisms in concrete and masonry structures, 3D printing of concrete structures, concrete durability and use of supplementary cementing materials.

Prof. David TREJO

Oregon State University, United States

Tentative Topic: Holistic Advances for Corrosion Durability in Reinforced Concrete Systems

Prof. David TREJO

Prof. David Trejo is a professor of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University. His research focuses on designing and developing materials and systems that enhance the efficiency, durability, and speed of construction processes. His work includes pioneering projects such as the development of precast overhang systems for safe, rapid, and durable bridge construction, assessment and modeling of segmental, post-tensioned bridges exhibiting strand corrosion, and the creation of refractory materials for NASA’s launch complex. His expertise extends to modeling and performance assessment of glass fiber- reinforced polymer (GFRP) concrete reinforcement, among other innovative research initiatives. His dedication to the field is reflected in his teaching, where he integrates real-world applications into the classroom, particularly in heavy civil construction methods, cementitious materials, and rapid construction techniques. His commitment to advancing construction technology and education has made him a pivotal figure in the civil engineering community, contributing significantly to both academic and practical advancements in the field. In 2022, he received the Robert E. Philleo Award from the American Concrete Institute, following the Delmar L. Bloem Distinguished Service Award in 2016. His dedication to education earned him the Dennis Marker Teacher of the Year Award in 2016 and the OSU Hal Pritchett Chair in 2009.

Prof. Koshy VARGHESE

IIT Madras, India

Tentative Topic: Digital technologies for accelerating and improving quality in construction

Prof. Koshy VARGHESE

Prof. Koshy Varghese is a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering IIT Madras. He has received numerous academic honors, few in the list like, Distinguished Scholar Awards, numerous best paper awards, editor of reputed journals, core membership in various curricula, presidentship in international organizations, and Certificates of appreciation. He has been involved in developing a unique post-graduate program in partnership with the largest construction company in India, Larsen & Toubro. This program has been operational for 16 years and is widely recognized as a model for university-industry interaction. In addition to this, he has performed several key administrative responsibilities at IITM. He has mentored three start-up initiatives in the IIT Madras research park. His research interests are primarily in the area of modelling and automating engineering processes using appropriate computational methods and tools. He has extensively worked on processes in three domains- construction design, construction planning, and urban sustainability assessment. He has been the principal investigator of several sponsored research projects. Many of these projects have been awarded based on submitting competitive proposals evaluated by the sponsoring organizations.