The Future of Civil Engineering and Cement-Free Concrete for Bored Tunnels

Join Dr Janet Young CBE on innovation and sustainability, plus Dr Carola Edvardsen on cement-free concrete for tunnels. This event offers a valuable opportunity to hear from Dr Janel Young, ICE Director General and Dr Carola Edvardsen, Technical Director in COWI. Dr Janet Young will share her vision for the future of civil engineering, focusing on sustainability, digital innovation, professional excellence, and the skills required for the next generation of engineers. She will discuss how the profession can lead the delivery of resilient and sustainable infrastructure that benefits both society and the environment. Dr Carola Edvardsen will discuss how the global tunnelling industry is responding to one of its greatest challenges: delivering the infrastructure needed for growing cities while significantly reducing carbon emissions. Her presentation will explore innovative approaches to sustainable tunnelling, low-carbon construction methods, efficient use of materials, and the role of technology in creating more environmentally responsible underground infrastructure. Conventional concrete, the backbone of modern tunnel construction, is a primary source of CO₂ emissions, largely due to the clinker production process in Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). This presentation will include findings and proposals from an ongoing research initiative for the use of geopolymer concrete at steel-fibre reinforced segmental lining of future bored tunnel projects in Denmark.