Special Sessions

Various special sessions will be organised along with the technical sessions on the conference topics.

Special session on standardisation in cement and concrete in Africa in collaboration with ARSO:

In collaboration with the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) a special session will feature representatives of African standardisation bodies to discuss about challenges and potentials in the field of testing and quality infrastructure related to safety of materials. The special session will be supported by the German Metrology Institute (PTB) within the framework of the Pan-African Cement Proficiency Testing Scheme PACE-PTS. 

Special session on circular economy ecosystems within the framework of Circular B-I/O:

In times of climate change, functional circular economic concepts will become a key element of positive changes, but the ecosystems vary greatly and require specific adaptions depending on the boundary conditions. The session will focus on solutions for bio-based cascading, circular materials value chains.

Special industry session:

Research and innovation needs fast adoption and implementation and in return science and research have to serve socio-economic challenges. The special session on industry innovation will connect science and practice for exchange on challenges and innovation potentials in materials and structures.

Special regional sessions:

Regional sessions highlight current problem areas and solution strategies for specific societal and environmental frameworks. 

Panel discussion on current challenges and future potentials in construction research in Africa
hosted by

• Prof. Kolawole A. Olonade, RILEM Regional Convenor for Sub-Saharan African, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Lagos, Nigeria 

Durability of RC Structures: design, assessment and strengthening in China

hosted by

• Prof. Xiang-Lin Gu, President of RILEM China Chapter, President of ACI China Chapter, Department of Structural Engineering, Tongji University, China, and
• Assoc. Prof. Chao Jiang, MOE Key Laboratory of Performance Evolution and Control for Engineering Structures, Tongji University, China

Advances in concrete technology in South and Central America and the Caribbean 

hosted by

• Prof. Romildo Dias Toledo-Filho, RILEM National Convenor for Brazil, Programa de Engenharia Civil, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil
• Prof. Fernando Martirena, President of RILEM LATAM, Central University of Las Villas Carretera de Camajuani, Cuba 

Representatives of other regions in the world are invited to host a specific regional session. If you are interested in hosting a special regional session, please contact: wolfram.schmidt[@]bam.de