Open to all members of the university community. All are welcome – no need for previous registration

Opening Remarks: Dr. Enrique Nava Baro
Vicechancellor for Mobility & International Projects

The UMA members of X-SeeO₂ are honoured to welcome Prof. Caijun Shi, whose academic footprint is among the most influential in contemporary materials science. Internationally recognized as a leader in the development of sustainable materials for civil engineering, his career is highlighted by the following milestones:

*       Global Leadership: He holds the #1 position worldwide in the Building and Construction sector according to the Stanford University Ranking (2024 and 2025 editions). Additionally, he holds the global #2 position for cumulative scientific production throughout his entire career in this sector.
*       Academy Recognition: Elected Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (FCAE).
*       Senior Management Positions: Currently serves as Chair Professor at Hunan University and is the President of the Asian Concrete Federation (ACF).
*       Editorial Impact: He is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials, a reference publication in the discipline.

Technical Seminar Overview

This high level scientific exchange explores the absolute frontier of carbon mineralisation the vanguard for permanent CO₂ storage and the development of state of the art carbon negative materials As the world’s  preeminent authority on green infrastructure, Prof Shi will kindly share his knowledge of the industrial innovations required to make net zero infrastructure a commercially viable reality This seminar demonstrates how materials science can outperform traditional binders while supporting the global transition toward sustainable industrial practice.

The following technical breakthroughs represent the core of this discourse, illustrating the critical bridge between fundamental thermodynamic modelling and scalable industrial application:

*       Thermodynamic Modelling: Precise control of calcium carbonate polymorphs to optimize material properties and structural integrity.
*       Superior Performance: Highlighting the achievement of 50% higher flexural strength compared to traditional products through advanced mineralization.
*       Circular Economy: The upcycling of recycled concrete aggregates and the conversion of waste concrete powders into active Eco-Pozzolans and high-performance binders.

Guest Lecture Professor Caijun Shi

Chair Professor, Hunan University. President, Asian Concrete Federation

Prof. Shi’s academic footprint is among the most influential in modern materials science. An internationally recognised leader in the green civil engineering materials. Ranked No. 1 globally for consecutive years (2024 & 2025) and No. 2 for overall career output within the global Building & Construction Sector (Stanford University ranking).

He is a hugely respected elected Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials.

Hosted by Cement Science Group (UMA)
Prof. Miguel Ángel Aranda García
(Leader of the Cement Science Group, PI of ERC-AdG ‘syn4cem’ Coordinator of EIC-Pathfinder Challenges ‘X-SeeO2’ & MSCA Supervisor)

Dr. Ning Li
(Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions Fellow)