In collaboration with the University of Plymouth, UK and UNEP/GRID-Geneva, Switzerland. With funding from the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK)
The aim of this conference is to establish a transdisciplinary consortium in order to bring together researchers in multiple disciplines (engineering, materials science, business and public policy), practitioners (senior executives, owners, real estate developers, engineers, architects, project managers, sustainability managers, suppliers), NGOs (certifying bodies, sustainability consultants, industry associations) and policymakers (regulators, standards boards, incentive designers) so that we can devise solutions for the challenges and embrace opportunities involved in addressing the global sand crisis from the perspective of the international construction industry. The United Nations published a comprehensive report on the crisis in 2019 and a follow-up set of recommendations in 2022. However, recent research published by our Northeastern University team found such information, as well as knowledge of sustainable sand substitutes, has largely failed to reach construction industry professionals in North America. Such lack of awareness may also be prevalent in other parts of the world. The focus of the conference is to:
The focus of the conference is to:
- Identify the current status of the use of sand in key countries
- Discuss challenges and potential solutions for the global sand crisis, focusing on the construction industry
- Set the groundwork for creating a multi-country transdisciplinary consortium
Spots limited. Register by June 13, 2024. Please contact Professor Sheila M. Puffer with questions at [email protected].
Tentative Agenda
| Wednesday June 19th (invitation only) | Description |
| 6:30pm | Welcome dinner for international delegates (invite-only) |
| Venue | TBD |
| Thursday June 20th (REGISTER HERE) | Description |
| Venue | 440 Egan Research Center, Northeastern University |
| 8:15am – 9:00am | Registration and light breakfast |
| Welcome and Introduction to the Conference | |
| 9:00am – 9:10am | Welcome by D'Amore McKim School of Business Dean David De Cremer |
| 9:10am – 9:20am | Welcome by College of Engineering Dean Gregory Abowd |
| 9:20am – 9:30am | Introduction by Dr. Sheila Puffer, Northeastern University, and Dr. Boksun Kim, University of Plymouth |
| SESSION 1: Keynote Address | |
| 9:30am – 10:30am | The Global Sand Crisis by Dr. Pascal Peduzzi, Director of UNEP/GRID-Geneva (UN Environmental Programme's Global Resource Information Database Geneva) |
| 10:30am – 10:50am | Coffee break |
| SESSION 2: Country Case Studies – Status and Awareness of the Sand Crisis, Barriers and Incentives to Sustainable Sand Substitutes | |
| 10:50am – 11:05am | Canada and the USA by Dr. Adel Zadeh, Northeastern University, Toronto, Canada; Dr.Yunxin Peng, Northeastern University, Boston; and Dr.Sheila Puffer, Northeastern University, Boston |
| 11:05am – 11:20am | India by Dr. Sandeep Chaudhary, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, India |
| 11:20am – 11:35am | United Kingdom by Dr. Boksun Kim, Dr. Jonathan Moizer, Dr. Minchul Sohn, and Dr. Stephen Childe, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK |
| 11:35am – 11:50am | China by Dr. Yongqiang Li, Shenzhen University of Information Technology, Shenzhen, China |
| 11:50am – 12:05pm | |
| 12:05pm – 12:30pm | Q&A Discussion |
| 12:30pm – 1:00pm | Lunch and networking, 440 Egan |
| 1:00pm – 1:45pm | Campus walking tour |
| SESSION 3 | Stakeholder Case Studies in Sustainable Innovation |
| 2:00pm – 3:00pm | Panelists from industry, government, and NGOs – Sublime Systems, Michael Gryniuk, Principal, CORA Structural; others TBD |
| 3:00 – 3:20pm | Q&A Discussion |
| 3:20pm – 3:30pm | Afternoon break |
| SESSION 4 | Break-out Activities and Plenary |
| 3:30pm – 4:30pm | Sustainable sand substitutes led by Dr.Yunxin Peng; stakeholder engagement led by Dr. Minchul Sohn |
| 4:30pm – 4:50pm | Plenary discussion of breakout sessions |
| 4:50pm – 5:00pm | Summary and close of the day |
| 5:00pm – 6:30pm | Break |
| 6:30pm – 8:30pm | Dinner for international delegates (by invitation only) Venue TBD |
| Friday June 21st INVITATION ONLY | Description |
| Venue | 440 Egan Research Center, Northeastern University |
| 8:30am – 9:00am | Light breakfast |
| Session 5: Research Collaboration Opportunities | |
| 9:00am – 9:20am | Review of the previous day's activities |
| 9:20am – 10:45am | Break-out sessions to explore research collaboration, future grant opportunities |
| 10:45am -11:00am | Coffee break |
| 11:00am – 11:30am | Plenary discussion of breakout sessions |
| Session 6: The Way Ahead and the Future of the Global Sand Observatory | |
| 11:30am – 12:30pm | Plenary discussion of building stakeholder relationships and the future of the Global Sand Observatory led by Dr. Pascal Peduzzi |
| 12:30pm – 1:00pm | Lunch – Faculty Club, 8th Floor EXP Science and Engineering Center |
| Session 7: Closing Keynote | |
| 1:00pm – 1:30pm | Investing in Sustainable Materials and Innovations by Dr. Marlene Puffer, Chief Investment Officer, Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), Edmonton, Canada – Faculty Club |
| 1:30pm – 1:40pm | Closing remarks |
| 2:00pm – 4:30pm | Field trip to Sublime Systems, 28 Park Street, Somerville 02143 |
| 4:30pm – 6:00pm | Tour of ISEC and EXP Science and Engineering Buildings, Northeastern University; group activity in EXP Makerspace |
