Saint Louis University (SLU), through the Department of Civil Engineering of the School of Engineering and Architecture, participated in the 17th International Conference on Concrete Engineering and Technology, CONCET 2026, held on 17-21 August 2026 at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
With the theme “Advancing Concrete Construction: Sustainability, Integrity, and Artificial Intelligence for Smarter Built Environments,” the conference provided an international platform for researchers, academicians, engineers, and industry professionals to present research and exchange knowledge on developments in concrete engineering, sustainable construction, structural engineering, and emerging technologies.
Representing SLU, Engr. Emerson O. Gapuz presented the research paper “Mechanical Strength Performance and Carbon Absorption of Biochar Modified Geopolymer Hollow Blocks.” The paper originated from an undergraduate research project conducted by SLU Civil Engineering students under his faculty promotership. The student research team was composed of Ryan S. Arrojado, Russel Jones O. Caligtan, Vince M. Calzada, Jeannie C. De Guzman, May Clondy H. Gasagas, Daniele Rozlyn F. Gogoling, Renille Dale L. Harold, Britney Laila P. Sokoken, and Jenelyn R. Vitriolo. Their research investigated the use of rice husk biochar in conventional and geopolymer concrete hollow blocks, with particular emphasis on mechanical performance and carbon dioxide absorption. The project demonstrates how undergraduate research at SLU can progress from experimental work and faculty mentorship to presentation before an international academic audience and peer reviewed scholarly publication.
Engr. Gapuz also coauthored the paper presented by Engr. Jan Nicholas Baldo, titled “Prediction of IDA Drift Ratio in Low Rise Reinforced Concrete Structures in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines Using Surrogate Modeling and MATLAB Based Artificial Neural Networks.” The research applied surrogate modeling and artificial neural networks to the prediction of structural response, combining structural and earthquake engineering with computational approaches. The IDA paper received the Best Paper Award under the Structural Analysis, Design and Engineering theme of CONCET 2026, providing further recognition of the quality and relevance of the research presented at the international conference.
Following peer review and acceptance, the conference research outputs are set for publication in the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, a Scopus indexed conference proceedings. Their publication extends the reach of the research beyond the conference and provides an opportunity for the findings to contribute to the wider international engineering and academic community. The participation also highlights the value of transforming academic and undergraduate research into publishable outputs with greater scholarly visibility and impact.
The research presented at CONCET 2026 reflects SLU’s commitment to research that addresses contemporary challenges in the built environment. The studies contribute to SDG 9, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production; and SDG 13, Climate Action. Through undergraduate research mentorship, international research dissemination, scholarly publication, and recognition such as the Best Paper Award, SLU continues to strengthen its contribution to innovative, resilient, and sustainable engineering research. (Article by Laarni Natividad | Photos by SEA)
