News & EventsDepartment Events
Events
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Jul29
EVENT DETAILS
lessAbstract: Concrete is renowned for its structural strength, yet cement production is responsible for nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions. By incorporating small amounts of carbon black, however, concrete can be made electrically conductive, opening the door to functionalities far beyond structural support. Electron-conductive concrete (EC³) enables applications ranging from selfheating infrastructure and large-scale energy storage to the potential wireless charging of electric vehicles traveling on conductive roadways. This talk will introduce the fundamental principles underlying EC³ and highlight emerging applications of this multifunctional material. No background in electrochemistry is assumed. Instead, I will show how expanding the traditional concrete toolbox to include electrically conductive bulk materials fundamentally changes our understanding of what concrete can do. Rather than serving solely as a structural material, concrete can become an active component of future energy and transportation infrastructure—and part of the solution to a more sustainable built environment.
Bio: Franz-Josef Ulm (Ph.D., Habil., Dr. h.c., P.E., NAE) is the Class of 1922 Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Trained as a structural engineer at the Technical University of Munich and the École des Ponts ParisTech, he joined the MIT faculty in 1999. He is the founding director of the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (established in 2009) and, since 2024, the founding director of the MIT EC³ Hub, which advances research and development on electrically conductive concrete and energy storage in concrete infrastructure.
TIME Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute map it
CONTACT Andrew Liguori andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
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Sep16
EVENT DETAILS
lessThe Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering's annual Faculty Retreat.
TIME Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
LOCATION 1702 Chicago Ave
CONTACT Andrew Liguori andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
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Sep16
EVENT DETAILS
lessThe Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering's annual Department Barbecue.
TIME Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
CONTACT Andrew Liguori andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
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Sep23
EVENT DETAILS
lessFall 2026 Classes Begin
TIME Wednesday, September 23, 2026
CONTACT Office of the Registrar nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR University Academic Calendar
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Oct3
EVENT DETAILS
lessThe Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering's 2026 Fall Career Fair.
TIME Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CONTACT Andrew Liguori andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)