UIC hosts 12th International Structural Engineering and Construction Conference
More than 125 people worldwide descended on Chicago for the 12th International Structural Engineering and Construction (ISEC-12) Conference held from Aug. 14 to Aug. 16 at UIC and hosted by its Department of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering.
UIC Clinical Assistant Professor Aslihan Karatas was the chair and UIC Clinical Assistant Professor Amir Iranmanesh was co-chair for the conference, which was themed “Innovative Theory and Practices in Structural Engineering and Construction.” Previous conferences were held in Sydney, Honolulu, Zurich, Las Vegas, Melbourne, Rome; Shunan, Japan, Valencia, Spain, and Cairo, Egypt.
ISEC-12 emerged as a testament to the evolving landscape of global conferences, blending in-person and online modalities with physical attendees and virtual participants. Drawing attendees from an impressive 39 countries, the conference’s diverse representation fostered a richer exchange of ideas and showcased its global appeal. The conference served as a platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and experiences in the field of construction and structural engineering.
“A highlight of the event was the invaluable insight provided by our two eminent keynote speakers: Dr. Soliman Khudeira from the Chicago Department of Transportation, and Dr. Mani Golparvar-Fard from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,” Karatas said. “Their expertise and presentations undoubtedly enriched the conference’s discourse, adding depth to the knowledge exchange.”
The ISEC Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to benefiting the professional engineering community in the areas of civil, structural, and construction engineering through educational conferences, seminars, and literature. A network of advisors and regional representatives serves it.
The conferences are set up to enhance communication and understanding between structural, system, and construction engineers, for successful design and construction of engineering projects at an international level. Interdisciplinary integration and international cooperation are encouraged. They promote innovative and integrative approaches in life cycle systems thinking in civil and building engineering that include constructability, specifications, design, bidding, and construction. It provides an international forum for the discussion of topics important to developing new knowledge in construction and structural engineering.