Abstract

We invite you to join us in a seminar about ‘Natural Fibres in Construction – Innovative Applications and Processes’ be held on Tuesday 17 November 2009 at Hughes Hall, Cambridge, 2:00pm – 5.30pm.

Natural fibres have been utilised in construction for millennia, they have particular advantages for a low carbon future. The event, with speakers from academia and industry will focus on the technical aspects of utilising natural fibres in a modern context and provide a forum for the latest research on new natural composites.

The Renewable House at the Buildings Research Establishment, (delivered by the NNFCC and funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change DECC ), and the Suffolk Housing Society development at Haverhill, are practical examples of the application of natural fibres. However these natural fibres have yet to enter mainstream application. Why is this? What are the opportunities and challenges facing natural fibres in construction?

Speakers include:

Dr Tim Yates – Technical Director, Building Research Establishment

Mizi Fan, Brunel University

Ed Suttie, Director of Timber Division, Building Research Establishment

Professor Peter Walker, Dept. Architecture & Civil Engineering, University of Bath

Registration:

The event is free but places are limited. Please book your place by email to Julia O’Rourke, Event Co-ordinator at j.orourke@uea.ac.uk or 01603 591765

Event Format:

2.00pm Registration opens

2.30pm Welcome and Speakers

4.30pm Refreshments & Networking

The event is organised by the InCrops Project (www.incropsproject.co.uk ), a new initiative to promote low carbon solutions based on plant materials from non-food crops.

Please do feel free to forward this event information (flyer attached) to colleagues and contacts that you believe it would be of interest to. Should you have any questions relating to this event please get in contact. Email: j.orourke@uea.ac.uk (01603 591765)