Sand: an (in)finite Resource?

The E4D Summer School 2016 aims to develop an integrated vision to a global challenge of today’s construction industry. The programme revolves around the depleting resource sand and the question of how to develop alternative building materials for future cities. Invited experts from around the world will share their knowledge and give insights in their field of research. Participants will not only learn the theoretic background of this resource but experiment with current and future technologies to sand and its alternatives. Through three workshops (i) bio-cementation, (ii) crystallization and (iii) 3D printing, the acquired knowledge will be tested and applied.

The Summer School will take place from 4 to 22 July 2016 at the TU Delft, The Netherlands. The E4D Summer School 2016 will be composed of 30 graduate students (master and doctoral students), from different disciplines related to the topic of “Sand: an (in)finite resource?” such as geologist, architects, engineers, chemists, urban planners, etc. Applicants from ETH Zurich, from academic institutions of the IDEA League and from around the world are welcome to apply. Applicants will be selected based on their academic record and previous work experience, as well as their commitment to research for development.

The E4D Summer School 2016 is organised by ETH Global in collaboration with the Chair of Architecture and Construction of ETH Zurich Assistant Professor Dirk E. Hebel and Aurel von Richthofen and the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at TU Delft, The Netherlands.