spatialstructures2020_21

🔔 International registration for the Amazonia Workshop 2025 is now OPEN!

Join us in Belém, Brazil this July for an international workshop on sustainable and bio-based construction materials.

📅 1–3 July 2025
📍 Belém, Brazil
🎟️ Limited spaces available – register now to secure your place through the QR code (https://accounts.google.com/v3/signin/identifier?continue=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fforms%2Fd%2Fe%2F1FAIpQLSdLPZXid6QPlTYkuLFEqgFE2aNYJLXp7lUrgTrm-FDHOwBLVg%2Fviewform&followup=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fforms%2Fd%2Fe%2F1FAIpQLSdLPZXid6QPlTYkuLFEqgFE2aNYJLXp7lUrgTrm-FDHOwBLVg%2Fviewform&ifkv=AdBytiNc3B1KziW0SZ9dbTj3x1MvG8w8yXli9B66J-DOLPVnCq730gaOChik0ue5lTXl0LFESuxjaQ<mpl=forms&osid=1&passive=1209600&service=wise&flowName=GlifWebSignIn&flowEntry=ServiceLogin&dsh=S1478949597%3A1750194082880645).

🌿 Meet the Mentors: Dr. Alireza Behnejad 🌿

We’re excited to introduce Dr. Alireza Behnejad, a leading researcher in spatial structures, sustainable construction, and hands-on engineering education!

As Director of the Spatial Structures Research Centre at the University of Surrey, Dr. Behnejad developed the award-winning DAD Project (Design, Assemble, and Dismantle), which received recognition from the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) as well as a bamboo curriculum for civil engineering undergraduate programmes. He was also a recipient of the prestigious National Teaching Fellow 2024 award.

He has organised courses and workshops in 18 universities abroad and his hands-on approaches were embedded in the curriculum in Brazil, China, Iran, Malaysia and Mexico. Dr. Behnejad is also the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Space Structures.

At the Amazonia Workshop 2025, Dr. Behnejad will share his expertise in bamboo construction, spatial structures, and interactive learning approaches.

🌿 Meet the Mentors: Dr. Marzieh Kadivar 🌿

We’re excited to introduce Dr. Marzieh Kadivar as one of our mentors. Dr Kadivar specialises in bamboo product commercialisation, engineered bamboo production, and sustainable entrepreneurship.

As the founder of a successful bamboo-based business, BamBuild, she brings practical insights on turning research into real-world solutions. Her work has been recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Leaders in Innovation Fellowships and the Energy Global National Awards.

At the Amazonia Workshop 2025, she will share her expertise on commercialising bio-based materials and scaling sustainable innovations.

Stay tuned as we introduce more mentors!

🌿 Meet the Mentors: Dr. Dan Bompa 🌿

We’re excited to introduce Dr. Dan Bompa, a leading expert in structural engineering, sustainable materials, and hybrid construction systems!

A Chartered Structural Engineer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Surrey, Dr. Bompa has conducted research at Imperial College London, EPFL, and ETH Zürich, focusing on steel-timber and steel-concrete systems, seismic resilience, and circular construction. With 100+ peer-reviewed papers and the Structures Best Research Paper Prize (2019), his work is shaping the future of sustainable engineering.

At the Amazonia Workshop 2025, he will bring expertise in structural innovation, material resilience, and sustainability in construction.

Stay tuned as we introduce more mentors!

🌿 Meet the Mentor: Dr. Dan Bompa 🌿

We’re excited to introduce Dr. Dan Bompa, a leading expert in structural engineering, sustainable materials, and hybrid construction systems!

A Chartered Structural Engineer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Surrey, Dr. Bompa has conducted research at Imperial College London, EPFL, and ETH Zürich, focusing on steel-timber and steel-concrete systems, seismic resilience, and circular construction. With 100+ peer-reviewed papers and the Structures Best Research Paper Prize (2019), his work is shaping the future of sustainable engineering.

At the Amazonia Workshop 2025, he will bring expertise in structural innovation, material resilience, and sustainability in construction.

Stay tuned as we introduce more mentors!

🌿 Meet the Mentor: Dr. Leila Meneghetti🌿

Leila Cristina Meneghetti is a Civil Engineer and Assistant Professor at USP - Universidade de São Paulo. She coordinates the Research Group on Innovation in Structural Systems (GISE) and the Laboratory of Structures and Materials.

Specialising in experimental analysis and reinforced concrete structures strengthened with composite materials, her research focuses on innovative structural systems and sustainable composite materials, making her a key contributor to this workshop on the Sustainable Development of Biobased Construction Materials in Brazil.

Stay tuned as we introduce more mentors!

🌿 Meet the Mentors: Prof. Holmer Savastano Junior 🌿

We’re pleased to introduce Prof. Holmer Savastano Junior, Professor at the Universidade de São Paulo - USP and a leading expert in sustainable building materials and non-conventional construction techniques.

His research focuses on bamboo and plant fibres as key resources for civil construction, exploring innovative ways to incorporate agricultural residues and byproducts into durable, high-performance materials. From fibre-cement composites to prefabricated structural elements, his work is shaping the future of eco-friendly construction.

Prof. Savastano brings a wealth of knowledge to the Amazonia Workshop 2025, offering invaluable insights into material preparation, processing, and performance assessment.

Stay tuned as we introduce more mentors!

🌍 Supporting Diversity at the Amazonia Workshop 2025 🌍

We are committed to making the Amazonia Workshop 2025 accessible to all. If you are an underrepresented individual in need of additional support, we encourage you to reach out.

💡 Limited funding is available to help cover participation costs for those who may face barriers to attending.

If this applies to you, please get in touch—we’d love to support you where possible.

📩 Contact us at [email protected] for more information.

🌿 Amazonia Workshop 2025 is here!

Are you passionate about sustainable construction and bio-based materials? Join us July 1-3, 2025, in Belém, Brazil, to explore the potential of bamboo and palm in transforming the future of construction.

This workshop will explore the potential of bio-based construction materials, such as bamboo and palm, in sustainable construction. Participants will benefit from:

✅Keynotes by global experts
✅Hands-on activities and field trips
✅Networking opportunities with leading researchers and professionals

💡 Funding Opportunity: Early career researchers from the UK and Brazil are eligible to apply for funding to cover workshop costs.

Apply via the form here: https://liveuclac-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/zcesshb_ucl_ac_uk/Ea7jL-U_LLxHqijq6mVDoTwBRbWaB0lIVe8mkWKsANs_3w?e=SccJDo

📩 Interested but not eligible for funding? Email us at [email protected] to let us know, and we’ll keep you updated about general registration opening soon.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the future of sustainable construction!

Read our interview with Sofia Colabella in our latest Movers and Shakers issue!

Sofia Colabella is a Lecturer in Architectural Technology at The University of Melbourne 🇦🇺 and the co-founder of Gridshell.it and the research hub ADD+F at Melbourne School of Design.

She recently published "Makers: Digital Fabrication for Architecture and Design" with Sergio Pone 📖

🔬 Her research interests include exploring technologies to promote social equity and ecological sustainability, re-evaluating digital design thinking, and investigating the use of waste and reclaimed material in architecture.

Learn more about her contributions to the industry and to research by reading our article!

Get a free copy of the full June issue of our e-magazine by following this link

🔗 https://lnkd.in/eTM6unH9

You can also learn more about her by watching our Movers and Shakers interview on our channel

📺 https://lnkd.in/gWXC8WRu

Read our interview with Su-Duo Xue in our latest Movers and Shakers issue!

Su-Duo Xue is a Professor at Beijing University of Technology 🇨🇳 and the President of the China Association for Spatial Structures (CASS).

👷🏼‍♀️ He is also Vice Chairman of the Spatial Structures Committee of China 👷🏼‍♂️

🔬 His research interests include shell and spatial structures, earthquake engineering and structural vibration control.

Learn more about his contributions to the industry and to research by reading our article!

Get a free copy of the full June issue of our e-magazine by following this link
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eTM6unH9

You can also learn more about him by watching our Movers and Shakers interview on our channel

📺 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMoaFWjMw7c

Are you excited for the next conference organised by 🇨🇭 ETH Zürich?

Why not check Surrey's experimental on timber columns and tubes presented at IASS23 in the meantime?

📑 You can read the articles here:

🔗 https://lnkd.in/eyZqbMP5
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eDSZ2A98