IMS7

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Anna Luisa Costa

Dr. Anna Luisa Costa works as Senior Researcher at the Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics (ISTEC-CNR, Faenza, Italy), a leading nanotechnology lab and nanotechnology and colloidal processing group. The research activity, documented by more than 50 papers in international peer-reviewed journals, deals with:

• research and development of innovative processes for the synthesis and functionalization of ceramic nano powders
• synthesis and characterization of colloidal systems applied to solid surface functionalization (catalytic and photocatalytic solid surfaces, surfaces with tuned hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties) to casting processes and pre-sintering treatments
• tailoring properties and functionalities of ceramic nanoparticles through surface engineering

Since March 2008, she has been coordinator of the EU-funded research collaborative project "Safe Nano Worker Exposure Scenarios" - SANOWORK (FP7-280716), which addresses the development of a "safety by design" approach to nanomaterials risk management.

Dr. Mariam AlMaadeed

Dr. Mariam AlMaadeed is the Director of the Center for Advanced Materials at Qatar University. She received her PhD in Materials Science from Alexandria University in Egypt in 2001 and joined the Physics Department at Qatar University in the same year. Dr. AlMaadeed has had extensive experience and a large body of internationally recognized work in the field of polymers characterization and structure, as well as in nanocomposites and nanotechnology techniques. Her work has been featured in more than 60 journals and conference publications. She has many research grants as PI and Co-PI on different projects with total funds amounting to approximately $6,700,000 during the last five years.

Dr. AlMaadeed has given many consultations and workshops to a diverse group of organizations such as industries and ministries, as well as the community. She is currently a member of the Research Council Committee, the Quality and Management Committee and the New Reform Committee.

Dr. AlMaadeed designed and contributed to many workshops, symposiums and conferences in the field of materials science and in teaching and learning strategies. Among the accolades she has received is the Physics State Award for 2010-2011.

Dr. Charles J. Kibert

Dr. Charles J. Kibert is a Professor in the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Building Construction, College of Design, Construction and Planning, University of Florida. He was the Director of the Center for Construction and Environment from 1991 to 1999 and of the Rinker School from 1999 to 2002. He is also a co-founder and chairman of the Cross Creek Initiative, a non-profit industry/university joint venture seeking to implement sustainability principles into construction. His research interests are: construction waste management, environmental impacts of construction, construction and demolition (C&D) debris recycling, and sustainable development and construction. He is the coordinator of an international working group known as Task Group 16 of Conseil International du Batiment (CIB) on the subject of sustainable construction.

Dr. Kibert teaches a newly developed graduate course on sustainable construction at the University of Florida as well as continuing education courses to industry on the subject. He organized the First International Conference on Sustainable Construction held in Tampa, Florida, in November 1994, an event attended by 300 construction industry people from 30 countries. He also organized Green Building Materials '96 held in Gainesville , Florida in June 1996. He has published over 90 papers and books and edited several publications on construction and the environment and related issues. He has been a keynote speaker and lectured on sustainable construction in the UK, Germany, Lithuania, Finland, Italy, Canada, and the US. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Florida, a Chartered Engineer in the UK, and a mechanical and electrical contractor in Florida.

Dr. Kibert was the Project Manager for the creation of sustainability codes for the Abacoa Project on behalf of the land developer and the owner, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. These codes are a sustainable or "green" development and construction overlay on the standard construction documents used in construction. They are designed to make the Abacoa development the first community in the world specifically built using sustainability principles for its content.

Dr. Kibert was the Project Manager for Summer House, a demonstration of "green" construction, to be located at Kanapaha Gardens, an ecotourism attraction in Alachua County, Florida. He has also worked with the Neighborhood Housing and Development Corporation in Gainesville in the renovation of derelict structures into high-performance homes. He was the project director in the creation of an innovative educational outreach program for Florida building contractors: "How to Build Green and Profit." This continuing education course, completed in March 1996, is expected to reach all Florida builders within two years, resulting in a dramatic impact on the way construction is performed in the state. He also co-organized a 1996 series on sustainability that consisted of seminars on sustainable development activities in various economic sectors and a 1997 series with the theme of sustainable communities.

Dr. Kibert serves as a member of the State of Florida Construction/Demolition (C&D) Debris Task Force, a state-legislated group that is recommending appropriate practices and laws that should replace the existing process. He has been involved with several C&D research efforts to include waste characterization and an effort to assess the feasibility of improving the recycling rate of C&D waste in Orange County, Florida. He has taught several continuing education classes on C&D issues at the Southeast Building Congress in Orlando and at the National Association of Home Builders Annual Conference in Houston, Texas.

Prior to his current position, he was Director of Design and Vice-President of MMM Design Group International in Dublin, Ireland, and Frankfurt, Germany. He has also been a mechanical and electrical contractor, a consulting mechanical engineer, a nuclear reactor design engineer, and an Army officer. At present, he is a Colonel in the US Army Reserve and a unit commander.

Dr. Mufid Samarai

Dr. Mufid Samarai is the senior adviser of the Sharjah
Research Academy, an organization of the Government of Sharjah. He is a
professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the
University of Sharjah. He obtained his PhD from University College London in
1976. He has been engaged in teaching, research and consulting work ever since.
He was involved in the repair of more than 100 structures and bridges in Iraq,
Jordan and the UAE. He is former vice president of CIB (Holland) and Bureau member
of Rilem (France). He is board member of OMAINTEC. His research interests
include quality control, non-destructive testing, durability, sustainability,
energy conservation, damage assessment and repair of structures and
conservation of heritage structures. He has over 180 publications, two
published books and four registered patents.

Experiences:

• Established and directed the National Center for Research and Construction Laboratories for the Ministry of Housing and Construction, Iraq 
• Deputy Minister for Housing and Reconstruction, Iraq
• Professor of Civil Engineering, Acting Head of the Department and Dean of College, Baghdad University
• Director of the Consulting Engineering Bureau of Applied Science University, Jordan and UOS
• Director and Senior Designer for Consulting Engineering Bureau
• University Representative for Management of the Construction of University of Sharjah  buildings
• Director, The Central Laboratories, University of Sharjah
• Senior Advisor, Sharjah Research Academy, Government of Sharjah
• Technical Coordinator for the Athar Programme
• Advisor for Saudi Specifications Committee
• Established and directed the National Center for Research and Construction Laboratories for the Ministry of Housing and Construction, Iraq 
• Deputy Minister for Housing and Reconstruction, Iraq
• Professor of Civil Engineering, Acting Head of the Department and Dean of College, Baghdad University
• Director of the Consulting Engineering Bureau of Applied Science University, Jordan and UOS.
• Director and senior designer for Consulting Engineering Bureau.
• University Representative for Management of the Construction of University of  Sharjah   Buildings.
• Director, The Central Laboratories, University of Sharjah.
• Senior Advisor, Sharjah Research Academy, Government of Sharjah.
• Technical Coordinator for Athar Programe.
• Advisor for Saudi Specifications Committee

Call for Abstracts

The conference is actively soliciting abstracts at this time. All papers presented at the conference will be published in the proceedings.

To download the call for abstracts, please click here.

Please submit your abstract to:

Lenita Percival
Tel +971 6 515 2929
Fax +971 6 515 2979
[email protected]
www.aus.edu/ims7

Exhibition and Sponsorship

The event offers the following levels of sponsorship and benefits:

All sponsors will be listed on the final technical program with their level. During the breaks, there will be a show of slides with messages thanking all sponsors. At the end of the technical program, the IMS Board will present recognition certificates to sponsors.

For exhibitors who are not sponsors, the basic rent price is $250/m2 for space only.

Visa Information

Citizens of the following countries can obtain a UAE visa upon entry: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland (Netherlands), Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America and Vatican City.

Citizens of other countries will require a visa to enter the United Arab Emirates. If you are flying to the UAE using Emirates Airlines or Air Arabia, the airline can get you the necessary visa if you make the request in advance.

If you elect to apply for a visa at the UAE embassy in your country, we will be glad to provide you with any supporting documents that you may need, such as an invitation letter indicating the acceptance of your paper.

he American University of Sharjah will be glad to apply for a conference visa on your behalf. The visa is valid for 30 days from the day of entry and is issued 15 days before the conference. Please email the following documents to the conference secretariat at [email protected]

Contacts

Lenita Percival
Tel +971 6 515 2929
Fax +971 6 515 2979
[email protected]
www.aus.edu/ims7