The Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department within the Faculty of Engineering (FOE) at the University of Balamand (UOB) proudly participated in the organization of the inaugural SCCEE International Virtual Conference titled "Building the Future - Innovations and Challenges in Sustainable Civil Engineering." This groundbreaking event, organized by Scientific Steps International Publishing Services (SSG) in collaboration with UOB, Abu Dhabi University (UAE), and Northern Technical University (Iraq), brought together a diverse array of participants from around the world. The conference took place from June 1 to June 3, 2024.
The conference was a resounding success, with a remarkable 60 submitted abstracts, out of which 35 were accepted for full paper presentations. Ultimately, 32 full papers were approved for publication, showcasing cutting-edge research and innovations in sustainable civil engineering.
Representing UOB, Dr. Ali Jahami, Assistant Professor at the CEE Department, Chaired the Conference, ensuring its smooth execution and fostering engaging discussions among the participants and the several prominent figures whom served as keynote speakers at the conference:
- Dr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh is the Founder and Chairman of the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG.Global)
- Professor Ghassan Aouad Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University, UAE
- Professor Alyaa Abbas Al-Tayyar President of Northern Technical University, Iraq
- Professor George Wardeh is a Full Professor in Materials and Structural Engineering at CY Cergy-Paris University. France and a member of L2MGC (Laboratory of Materials and Mechanics of Civil Engineering)
- Professor Jamal Khatib, is a Full Professor of Civil Engineering at the Faculty Engineering at Beirut Arab University (BAU)-Lebanon and Emeritus Professor of the University of Wolverhampton (UoW) – UK.
- Professor Arezki Tagnit Hamou is a Full Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Building Engineering at the University of Sherbrooke (Canada) and a Head of Cement and Concrete Research Group.
- Professor Said KENAI is currently a Full Professor of concrete technology, building materials and diagnostic and repair of structures at the Civil Engineering Department, University Saâd Dahleb-Blida1, Algeria.
- Professor John Kinuthia Full Professor, University of South Wales, UK is the head of the Advanced Materials Testing Centre
- Professor Hakim S. Abdelgader – is a Full Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
- Professor Dr. Mehmet Serkan Kırgız is a renowned academic affiliated with İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University in Turkey and Northwestern University in Chicago, USA.
Dr. Dana Nasr, the Chairperson and Assistant Professor at the CEE Department, delivered an inspiring presentation on behalf of Professor Rami Abboud, the Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. The presentation highlighted insights into the department’s facilities, laboratories, master tracks and much more regarding the department.
One of the conference highlights was the keynote lecture by Professor Joseph Assaad from the CEE Department, who also serves as Associate Dean of Research and Innovation. The lecture was titled “An Overview on the Rheology and Durability of Flowable Concrete Containing Polymer Latexes.” Prof. Assaad's insights captivated the audience and sparked lively debates on the future of sustainable civil engineering materials.
UOB made a significant impact with five other distinguished faculty members from the CEE Department, including Dr. Firas Barraj, Dr. Abdelkader Elmir, Dr. Maria Ghannoum, Dr. Marianne Saba, and Dr. Yasmine Jabaly, who presented their groundbreaking research and contributed to the conference's success.
Professor Abboud extended his sincere congratulations for Dr. Jahami and the CEE team for their participation as partners in the first SCCEE International Virtual Conference. He stated that the conference marked a significant milestone in promoting sustainable civil engineering practices globally. The Faculty of Engineering’s active participation and leadership in this prestigious event underscores its commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering innovation in the field of Civil and Environmental Engineering.