Minimising Cement in Construction (MICON)

If cement production were a country, it would be the 3rd largest CO2 emitter in the world. In just two hundred years it has become the second most consumed material on the planet after water. Cement is vital as a component in concrete, with which we build the cities and infrastructure that support economic development. Yet we now also know that we design extremely inefficient structures, using much more concrete than is needed to satisfy our building design codes. This travel grant will address demand reduction, as a key component of reducing the climate impact of concrete. Through better design practice, cultural change, and learning from leading international research and industry partners working in this field, the grant aims to develop a global network of funding proposals wherein we can collectively tackle our need to use less concrete.