Innovation in Research and Industry Symposium (IRIS)
The Innovation in Research and Industry Symposium (IRIS) provides a global platform for prestigious speakers to showcase innovative developments and/or cutting-edge research in built environment practice to students, fellow academics, industrial practitioners and policy advisors. Colleagues at other higher education institutions, businesses or organisations internationally are welcome to attend this symposium and/or contribute to the management and leadership of IRIS.
The aim of the virtual event, which is free to attend, is to disseminate knowledge and experience that will benefit future generations of built environment practitioners within our community of practice. We would welcome international collaboration and assistance in hosting future events so if you are interested in joining us (either as a future host or attendee), then please do get in touch.
Guest Speakers
Our guest speakers are pioneers in their respective fields and have been invited to share their wealth of knowledge and experience. The programme of talks will cover a diverse range of topics including (but not limited to): Sustainability and the circular economy, digitalisation and information technology, and infrastructure development. We look forward to seeing you at an event.
Watch this space for the next series of events or view our previous speakers.
Need for a change?
The construction and civil engineering industry is currently undergoing a rapid transformation in the way that it delivers complex projects to meet societal needs for housing and infrastructure development.
Technological innovations, sustainable development and the circular economy, and sprawling urbanisation are some of the considerations which demand the development of pragmatic solutions to address widely debated and emerging social, economic, political and environmental challenges.
Innovation, research and development are central to this transformation because cumulatively, they have the inherent capacity to positively engender impactful and sustainable change.
Watch this space for our next event series.
Meet the team
IRIS Organisers:
Dr. Saeed Talebi, Senior Lecture and Course Leader for BSc Quantity Surveying, Birmingham City University, UK
Professor David J. Edwards, Birmingham City University, UK
IRIS Chairperson for 2022:
Associate Professor Mark Shelbourn, Head of Department for Built Environment, Birmingham City University, UK
IRIS Administrator:
James Dyer, Birmingham City University, UK
IRIS Coordinator:
Dr. Joas Serugga, Lecturer, Birmingham City University, UK
Scientific Committee:
Dr Reza M. Hosseini, Deakin University Australia
Dr Michael Sing, University of Newcastle, Australia
Dr Solomon Adjei, Senior Lecturer, Bimringham City University, UK
Dr Samad Sepasgozar, University of New South Wales, Australia
Associate Professor Damilola Ekundayo, Birmingham City University, UK
Dr. Chris Roberts, Assistant Lecturer, Birmingham City University, UK
Professor Pekka Leviäkangas, University of Oulu, Finland
Professor Didi Thawla, University of South Africa (UNISA), South Africa
Professor Clinton Aigbavboa, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Professor Theo Haupt, Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa
Assistant Professor Dr. Nuria Forcada Matheu, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPS), Spain
Professor De-Graft Owusu-Manu, KNUST, Ghana
Professor Edward Badu, KNUST, Ghana
Dr Obuks Ejohwomu, The University of Manchester, UK