ICISR Call for Abstracts

The 2nd International Conference on Iron-Sulfide Reactions in Concrete (ICISR 2026) will take place May 13-14, 2026, at the Mystic Hilton in Mystic, Connecticut.

Building on the success of the 2024 event, the upcoming conference will further advance our collective understanding of sulfide-induced deterioration, with an expanded emphasis on standardization, mitigation strategies, sustainability, and effective risk communication across both infrastructure and residential sectors.

We invite researchers, engineers, homeowners, foundation replacement contractors, and policy stakeholders to submit abstracts addressing the 2026 conference theme:

Advancing Knowledge, Standards, and Solutions for Sulfide-Bearing Aggregates.

Hosted by the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UConn, the conference brings together leading researchers and practitioners to address the durability issues caused by iron-sulfide-bearing aggregates in concrete.

Abstracts presenting new research findings, field investigations, case studies, and industry insights are welcome.

Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:

• Standardization of Testing Protocols for Sulfide-Bearing Aggregates and Concrete
• Mitigation and Repair Strategies for Concrete Affected by Iron Sulfide Reactions
• Reaction Kinetics of Iron Sulfide Oxidation and Secondary Product Formation
• Sustainable Concrete Solutions for Sulfide-Risk Zones
• Gaps in Residential Construction Standards: Building Failures and the Path to Higher Codes
• The Role of Insurance and Real Estate Industries in Managing Sulfide-Aggregate Risks
• Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) of Sulfide-Affected Structures
• Advanced Analytical Tools for Detecting and Characterizing Iron Sulfide Minerals in Aggregates
• Exposure Conditions, Environmental Influences, and Accelerated Aging of Sulfide-Bearing Concrete
• Field Case Studies: Structural Damage, Legal Disputes, and Long-Term Monitoring of Sulfide-Affected Homes
• Risk Mapping and Aggregate Source Tracking for Sulfide-Bearing Materials
• Ongoing Research: Concrete-Scale Reactivity Tests and Performance Validation Studies

Submission Guidelines

Abstracts must be 300-500 words, clearly outlining the study's objectives, methodology, results (if applicable), and relevance to the conference themes.

Please include a title, list of author(s) with affiliations, and contact information for the corresponding author.

• Abstract Submission Deadline: August 15, 2025 Extended to September 5, 2025
• Notification of Acceptance: September 15, 2025
• Extended Abstract Due: December 15, 2025
• Conference Dates: May 13-14, 2026
• Location: Mystic Hilton, Connecticut, USA

Click here to see the abstract submission portal and required template. 

We look forward to your contributions and to welcoming you to Mystic for this important interdisciplinary event.

The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering proudly congratulates Max Wolff and Benjamin Shatzel on being selected as recipients of the prestigious 2025-26 Moles Scholarship from The Moles, an organization dedicated to advancing the heavy construction industry through education and professional development.

Max Wolff, a civil engineering student, is currently employed at Wolff Engineering, a firm founded by his father. His work focuses on subsurface sewage disposal and site design across Connecticut, with a recent emphasis on septic system design for residential applications. Reflecting on the award, Max shared:

"I am beyond grateful to have received this incredible award and I would like to credit my success to my father, my mother, as well as Dr. Motaref who significantly inspired me to pursue this achievement."

Benjamin Shatzel serves as a Transportation Intern at Barton & Loguidice, contributing to replacement projects for bridges, culverts, and highways throughout Western New York. Benjamin remarked:

"I am honored to receive this award, and it encourages me to continue working hard and to keep pushing forward in my professional journey."

Please join us in celebrating Max and Benjamin on this achievement that recognizes their hard work, dedication, and promise as future leaders in civil engineering and construction.

We are proud to announce that Xingyu Wang, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Connecticut School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 CAPEES-Elsevier Best Doctorate Dissertation Award. This prestigious honor, presented by the Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science (CAPEES) in partnership with Elsevier, recognizes two outstanding doctoral dissertations in the field of environmental engineering or science in the U.S.

CAPEES is the largest academic association of Chinese environmental engineering and science scholars in North America. Established in 2007, the organization is dedicated to promoting knowledge exchange, fostering professional growth, and supporting environmental engineering innovations that benefit society.

Dr. Wang’s award-winning dissertation focuses on innovative methods to recover valuable resources from wastewater, contributing to both environmental protection and climate change mitigation. His research combines electrochemistry, membrane development, and advanced modeling to create efficient systems for carbon and metal recovery. Notably, his work achieved:

• Enhanced electrode surfaces for more selective reactions, including CO₂ conversion to methane.

• Improved membranes that increased proton movement efficiency by over 20 times, enabling better fuel production.

• Smart, AI-integrated models for real-time control of electrochemical systems, with predictive accuracy up to 99% for biogas production.

These advancements pave the way for smarter wastewater treatment and carbon-neutral industrial practices. Dr. Wang’s research has been supported by the Department of Energy and National Science Foundation and exemplifies interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in environmental engineering.

For more information about CAPEES and this award, visit CAPEES Dissertation Award.