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11/12/2026 | FB14 | Conference

Participation in Net-Zero Future 2026 in Darmstadt and an award for the best presentation

@Structural Materials and Construction Chemistry

From September 30 to October 2, 2026, members of the Department of Construction Materials and Construction Chemistry attended the Net-Zero Future 2026 Conference in Darmstadt

From September 30 to October 2, 2026, members of the Department of Construction Materials and Construction Chemistry attended the Net-Zero Future 2026 Conference in Darmstadt. A particular highlight for the team: Mujeeb Latifi was awarded the conference’s Best Presentation Award for his presentation on biochar as a carbon-storing aggregate in concrete.

The“3rd International Conference on Net-Zero Built Environment: Innovations in Materials, Structures, and Management Practices”took place at the darmstadtium convention center and was hosted by the Technical University of Darmstadt. As part of the “Net-Zero Future” conference series, the event brought together researchers and experts from around the world to discuss materials, structures, and management strategies for a climate-neutral built environment.

 

Prof. Bernhard Middendorf, a member of the International Scientific Committee, served as session chair for the session on “Net-Zero Concrete.”

 

Dr. Alexander Wetzel presented concretes based on alkali-activated binders. His presentation covered everything from development and characterization to real-world applications and life cycle assessment, highlighting the contribution of these concretes to a climate-neutral future.

 

Mujeeb Latifi presented the use of biochar as a carbon-storing aggregate in high volume fractions and its potential for the production of net-zero concrete. Since biochar sequesters carbon over the long term, it not only reduces emissions but also stores CO₂ in structures for the long term. His presentation was honored with the conference’s Best Presentation Award. This work is part of the BIOMAC project within the DFG Priority Program SPP 2436 “Net-Zero Concrete.”

 

This year’s conference was chaired by Prof. Eduardus Koenders (TU Darmstadt), Prof. Mahdi Kioumarsi (Oslo Metropolitan University), and Prof. Behrouz Shafei (Iowa State University). The accepted papers will be published by Springer in the series“Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering.”