The fib – International Federation for Structural Concrete – Symposium 2024 in Christchurch, New Zealand, brought together global experts to explore advancements in resilient concrete structures. Professor Alessandro Palermo, a former faculty member at the University of Canterbury and now a professor at the Department of Structural Engineering at the University of California San Diego, served as a co-chair of the Conference. As a former New Zealand fib Head Delegate since 2015, Palermo led the effort to bring the Symposium for the first in the history of New Zealand.
Held from November 11 to 13, the symposium, ReConStruct: Resilient Concrete Structures, was a fitting platform for Christchurch, a city that has made remarkable strides in recovery and rebuilding since a series of earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 2010-. The two biggest temblors took place on September 4, 2010, with a magnitude of 7.0 to 7.1 and a massive 6.3 aftershock on February 22, 2011.
With 637 attendees, including 330 presentations and delegates from 39 countries, the symposium highlighted the city's success in implementing seismic-resilient designs and innovative technologies.
The symposium featured engaging presentations, poster sessions, discussions, and networking opportunities. A key highlight was Palermo's co-leadership in inviting prominent keynote and invited speakers and shaping the technical programme and the SCOPUS-indexed conference proceedings.
The event also emphasized New Zealand’s commitment to sustainability, focusing on achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Concrete New Zealand’s 2050 Net-Zero Carbon Roadmap was highlighted as an important step towards a more sustainable built environment, with the symposium offering a platform for international collaboration on how these goals can be achieved.
Palermo’s leadership at the symposium reinforced the importance of collaboration in advancing structural engineering, positioning the event as a major milestone for the field.