Novel materials: bio-based solutions

Author: Various

Date published

13 June 2024

Price
Members: £45 + VAT
Standard: £70 + VAT
The Institution of Structural Engineers The Institution of Structural Engineers

Novel materials: bio-based solutions

Tag
Author
Date published
Price
Training
Author

Various

Date published

13 June 2024

Author

Various

Price

Members: £45 + VAT
Standard: £70 + VAT

Discover how bio-based materials such as cork, whole-trees and sugarcane are reshaping the construction industry and how to use them successfully in your projects.

As the climate emergency is challenging engineers to acknowledge the wider implications of their designs, the Novel material series inspires professionals to consider novel uses of structural materials and offers practical advice on implementing successfully a broader palette of non-traditional materials.

In this weboinar, expert speakers share case studies highlighting the benefits of using materials that grow or are a natural part of the biosphere, such as cork, whole-trees and sugarcane, in place of common construction materials and explore how to overcome the common challenges involved in their implementation.

Reasons to watch

  • Explore the unique properties of cork, whole-tress and sugarcane

  • Delve into the long-term environmental advantages of implementing bio-based construction solutions, such as reduced carbon footprint and improved resource efficiency

  • Learn the benefits of implementing these materials in your designs

Intended for

  • Engineers wanting to know more about effective solutions for improving the environmental performance of their projects

  • Wider built-environment professionals involved in projects that use bio-based materials

  • Academic researchers and students wishing to stay ahead of the curve in materials science and engineering

Speakers

Bamdad Ayati Senior Research Fellow, Sustainability Research Institute, University of East London

Bamdad is a materials chemist with an interest in low-carbon building materials. His work on waste sugarcane bio-composites (Sugarcrete) has won the Climate Positive Award at COP28 and received nominations for Earthshot Prize in 2023 and 2024.

Nicolo Bencini Associate, AKT

Nicolo is currently involved in high profile commercial and retail projects in central London. Throughout his career he has managed teams and delivered high profile engineering projects in the UK, USA and KSA. He has worked on the Battersea Power Station Phase 2 Redevelopment, the Wimbledon AELTC Millennium building and the King Abdullah Financial District Metro projects.

Joel De Mowbray Creative Director, Yes Make

Joel is a designer-maker and founder of a social enterprise called Yes Make. They use reclaimed materials from London to design and build beautiful public spaces with local people. Their work spans structures, sculptures, playgrounds, community buildings and more. Yes Make's workshop is based in a community garden in Canada Water, London, where they design and build their work with children, young people and volunteers of all ages.

Gavin Maloney Specialist Technology, Arup

Gavin began his career with Arup, London, where he gained extensive experience in working with bio-based materials. He was involved in the engineering design of Cork House, winner of the Wood Award’s Gold Award in 2019. He currently leads Arup’s specialist technology and research team in Canada.

James Norman - Chair Professor of Sustainable Design, University of Bristol

James worked on a wide variety of projects and has designed in a variety of materials, including steel, concrete, timber, earth, straw and glass. In 2015, James moved full-time into academia, where he teaches structural design with a focus on low-carbon solutions. He has co-written Conceptual Design of Buildings and Designing Timber Structures.

Additional information

Format:
Video
Video Length:
01:04:39
Publisher:
IStructE Ltd

Tags

Timber Research & Innovation Training Bamboo Sustainability & Environment Climate change Video IStructE London HQ Webinars

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