Neville Centre First Autumn Seminar 2026 - Circularity & Sustainability in Construction Materials
Online
Friday 18th September 2026
So our autumn seminar series is fast approaching - cooler weather as well - with the our first of them focusing on the theme of "Circularity & Sustainability in Construction Materials”; and the Neville Centre Of Excellence in Cement and Concrete Engineering at the School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, invites all interested parties to join.
Taking place online, on Friday, 18th September at 11:00, we welcome all parties to join us whether academics, students, industrial or civic organisations as well as any interested individuals.
Guest Speakers:
Prof. Ashraf F. Ashour
Presentation title: From Waste to Structures: Advancing Circularity in the Concrete Industry
Prof. Ashour is Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Bradford, holding a PhD from the University of Cambridge (1994). He has held major leadership roles including Head of Civil Engineering, Director of Research, and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Environments, and is a FIStructE, SFHEA, and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg; authored over 300 journal and conference publications. His research focuses on sustainable construction materials, resilient infrastructure, and smart structural systems, supported by major funders including Horizon Europe, EPSRC, British Council, and the Newton Fund. He has supervised 20 postdoctoral researchers and 20 PhD students, with his sustainable concrete research winning the Newton Prize 2020 and gaining BBC and Channel 4 recognition. Prof. Ashour has served as Editor-in-Chief of ICE Structures and Buildings and currently holds Associate Editor roles with Structures and Composite Structures journals. He is an active evaluator and reviewer for international research bodies and has chaired Portugal's Civil and Geological Engineering R&D evaluation panel in 2024-25. Recently, he secured major British Council and European Commission funding and edited Elsevier's 2024 book on sustainable concrete materials and structures, advancing low-carbon construction solutions.
Milad Eskandarinia
Presentation title: Utilization of Steel Slag through Advanced Activation Methods for Sustainable Construction Materials
Milad is a doctoral researcher in the Fibre and Particle Engineering Research Unit (FPERU) at the University of Oulu, Finland. His work explores how steel slags can be transformed from challenging industrial residues into functional constituents of cement and concrete. He studies how mechanical processing, chemical activation, and particle-surface modification influence slag dissolution, hydration, fresh-state behaviour, and strength development. By linking processing conditions to physicochemical changes and cementitious performance, his research seeks to identify practical routes for overcoming the limited reactivity and variability of steel slags. Ultimately, his work aims to support the development of low-carbon construction materials, reduce reliance on conventional cement, and promote the efficient use of industrial residues within a circular economy.
Plus, if you’d like to present at any of our future webinars series, please contact [email protected]
Taking place online, on Friday, 18th September at 11:00, we welcome all parties to join us whether academics, students, industrial or civic organisations as well as any interested individuals.
Guest Speakers:
Prof. Ashraf F. Ashour
Presentation title: From Waste to Structures: Advancing Circularity in the Concrete Industry
Prof. Ashour is Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Bradford, holding a PhD from the University of Cambridge (1994). He has held major leadership roles including Head of Civil Engineering, Director of Research, and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Environments, and is a FIStructE, SFHEA, and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg; authored over 300 journal and conference publications. His research focuses on sustainable construction materials, resilient infrastructure, and smart structural systems, supported by major funders including Horizon Europe, EPSRC, British Council, and the Newton Fund. He has supervised 20 postdoctoral researchers and 20 PhD students, with his sustainable concrete research winning the Newton Prize 2020 and gaining BBC and Channel 4 recognition. Prof. Ashour has served as Editor-in-Chief of ICE Structures and Buildings and currently holds Associate Editor roles with Structures and Composite Structures journals. He is an active evaluator and reviewer for international research bodies and has chaired Portugal's Civil and Geological Engineering R&D evaluation panel in 2024-25. Recently, he secured major British Council and European Commission funding and edited Elsevier's 2024 book on sustainable concrete materials and structures, advancing low-carbon construction solutions.
Milad Eskandarinia
Presentation title: Utilization of Steel Slag through Advanced Activation Methods for Sustainable Construction Materials
Milad is a doctoral researcher in the Fibre and Particle Engineering Research Unit (FPERU) at the University of Oulu, Finland. His work explores how steel slags can be transformed from challenging industrial residues into functional constituents of cement and concrete. He studies how mechanical processing, chemical activation, and particle-surface modification influence slag dissolution, hydration, fresh-state behaviour, and strength development. By linking processing conditions to physicochemical changes and cementitious performance, his research seeks to identify practical routes for overcoming the limited reactivity and variability of steel slags. Ultimately, his work aims to support the development of low-carbon construction materials, reduce reliance on conventional cement, and promote the efficient use of industrial residues within a circular economy.
Plus, if you’d like to present at any of our future webinars series, please contact [email protected]
