Events & Awards
Meet the Editors
Gain in-depth knowledge on the publication process. Editors from the Journal of Composites for Construction, Construction and Building Materials, Journal of Building Engineering, Structural Concrete, Advances in Structural Engineering and Materials and Structures will share tips and tricks for successful academic writing.
Construction and Building Materials
Composites for Construction
Materials and Structures
Structural Concrete
Building Engineering
Advances in Structural Engineering
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The discussion will be moderated by Eva Oller and will include short remarks from each editor, followed by an open dialogue with the audience.
This session will be particularly valuable for young researchers and PhD students, while also offering insights for academics at all career stages. Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with editors and learn more about key aspects of scientific publishing, including:
- How to identify the most suitable journal for your research
- Best practices for preparing and submitting manuscripts
- Common pitfalls in the publication process
- Publishing ethics and the role of AI and generative tools
- Editors’ perspectives on peer review
- Trends and expectations in scientific publishing in structural engineering
Women in FRP
A landmark plenary session featuring notable speakers and a roundtable discussion to celebrate and promote the contribution of women in the field of FRP.
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What will the future of civil engineering look like? Stronger structures, smarter materials, more sustainable solutions. But also: more diverse perspectives, more inclusive teams, and more women at the forefront of innovation. So how can women thrive in the world of FRP? Let’s find out together.
In FRPRCS17, we are launching a special session on “Women in FRP”. This session marks a milestone as the first-ever event dedicated to women in the long history of the IIFC conference series. Under the theme “She Reinforces” we aim to build a dedicated forum for women in the FRP community.
Our objectives are to:
- Build a supportive community where women can replace the “sense of isolation” with a strong “sense of belonging”;
- Share practical, often unspoken insights into academic and professional life that matter to women;
- Spark meaningful dialogue among women to inspire future collaborations;
- Empower women with discussions on negotiation, leadership, and professional rights.
It is a great pleasure to invite students, scholars, and engineers involved in FRP-related research and applications to join us. Let’s support each other, grow together, and realize our full potential.
The Women’s Session is scheduled separately from all parallel sessions, so you won’t miss any technical presentations.
Men are very welcome too!
Event Schedule
Opening Remarks
Lili Hu, University of Science and Technology Beijing, China
Cristina Barris, University of Girona, Spain
Short Presentations
How Does It Feel to Be a Young Woman in FRP Research in China?
Qian-Qian Yu, Tongji University, China
Women’s research on FRP in Italy
Francesca Ceroni, University of Parthenope Naples, Italy
Reflections on mentoring women and young professionals within the FRP community
Maria Lopez de Murphy, The Pennsylvania State University, US
Round table discussion
Moderator: Lijuan (Dawn) Cheng, University of California, Davis, US
Panellists
Qian-Qian Yu, Tongji University, China
Francesca Ceroni, University of Parthenope Naples, Italy
Maria Lopez de Murphy, The Pennsylvania State University, US
Rebecca Gravina, The University of Queensland, Australia
Young Researchers’ Event
A dedicated session exploring career perspectives and trajectories for the next generation of experts on FRP.
Chair of the RILEM Youth Council
Secretary of IIFC
fib Young Members Group
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Navigating the early stages of an academic career can be both exciting and challenging, particularly in today’s fast-paced and highly competitive research environment. Early-career researchers often face pressures related to publishing, funding, career progression, and establishing a professional network and identity within the field.
This interactive Young Researchers’ Event is designed to provide early-career delegates with practical insights, personal experiences, and open discussion on how involvement in international professional and technical organizations can help shape and accelerate an academic and research career.
The session will begin with a dynamic panel discussion featuring three early/mid-career researchers actively involved in leading international Organizations and Associations, including ACI, IIFC, fib, and RILEM. Through a series of curated questions, the panelists will share their personal journeys, discuss the opportunities and challenges they encountered, and reflect on how participation in technical committees, working groups, and professional networks has contributed to their research development, collaborations, professional visibility, leadership opportunities, and career progression.
The session will conclude with an open and informal Q&A discussion with the audience, encouraging direct interaction between delegates and panelists.
We warmly encourage all early-career delegates to attend and actively participate in the discussion. Senior delegates are also very welcome to join the conversation!
Panel discussion
Moderator: Sólyom Sándor, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary
Panellists:
Niki Trochoutsou, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Jovan Tatar, University of Delaware, United States
Marta del Zoppo, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
RILEM Best Paper Award for Young Researchers
The RILEM best paper award will be presented to the best paper authored and delivered by a young researcher or PhD student.
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We are pleased to announce the RILEM Best Paper Award, recognizing outstanding contributions by emerging researchers in the field!
The award, given out by RILEM, recognizes the best paper whose first author is an early-career researcher.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible, the first author of the paper must:
- Present the paper at FRPRCS-17; and
- At the deadline for full paper submission, either:
- Be under 35 years of age, or
- Be enrolled in a Ph.D. program.
Award details
The award will be presented during the closing ceremony of FRPRCS-17. The recipient will receive an invitation to submit an extended contribution to the open-access journal RILEM Technical Letters, which operates on an invitation-only submission model. The invited submission will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process.
IMPORTANT: To be considered for the award, the corresponding author must indicate the first author’s eligibility by selecting the option “This contribution was solely written by students and/or doctoral candidates” during the submission process.
Selection process
The Selection Committee, composed of early-career researchers and members of RILEM, fib and IIFC, will determine the winner based on:
- scientific novelty
- methodological rigor
- potential impact
We look forward to your outstanding contributions and to welcoming you in Girona!
