Chalmers' recently launched Green Cement course, which aims to give participants a practical insight into sustainable practices in cement production, has now received support from a rather unconventional source — a private initiative in the form of a donation to increase the attractiveness of the course.
- When Arezou presented the idea of this new course, I was very happy to be involved. I also wanted to provide additional financial support to help attract students and inspire them to realize how fascinating this seemingly “simple” material — concrete — truly is, says Ingemar Löfgren, Chalmers alumnus and private donor.
Ingemar Löfgren received his doctorate in Concrete Engineering in Chalmers in 2005 and has since been working in the industry. He has been connected to Chalmer as Adjunct Professor since 2012, working both within Structural Engineering and Building Technology/Building Materials. The donation is a targeted financial support to the Green Cement course, created by the initiative of Arezou Baba Ahmadi.
Arezou Baba Ahmadi is an Associate Professor at the division of Building Technology, leader for the Building Materials Research Area and examiner for the course Green Cement, open to students as well as professionals. The funds shall be used for e.g. field trips or as travel grants.
— Such support is deeply symbolic, and its value extends far beyond the financial contribution. The reason is simple: if we are to achieve carbon neutrality, the transition to more sustainable, or rather, low-carbon binders is more urgent than ever, says Arezou Baba Ahmadi.
A high-performing material with a significant environmental footprint
Ingemar Löfgren frames cement and concrete as the backbone of our civilization, with no other man-made material being used on such a vast scale. Yet, he points out, it is often not considered high-tech or scientifically intriguing.
— Today in Sweden, there is very little education in fundamental cement chemistry, and fundamental research in this field is scarce due to a lack of support and recognition of cement chemistry as a fundamental scientific discipline. However, if we are to meet—or even exceed—our net-zero emissions goals in construction, it is crucial to educate future experts and scientists in this field, says Ingemar Löfgren.
Arezou explains that Portland cement for decades has been treated as a singular material, a “one solution for all needs”.
— Thanks to the groundbreaking work of cement chemists over a century ago, we gained invaluable knowledge about Portland cement, a remarkable and irreplaceable material which, however, comes with a significant environmental footprint due to its vast demand, making alternative solutions necessary.
Awareness and knowledge needed to move forward
Arezou believes there is no single answer — no alternative that is as straightforward or high-performing as Portland cement, the trade-off we must embrace.
— This transition requires awareness. The chemistry of new binders must be better understood, explored, and tested. There is still so much to learn. The key question is: which educational programs should lead this effort? Should it be civil engineering, chemistry, materials science — or all of them? A donation like this underscores that experts such as Ingemar not only recognize this urgent need but also value the importance of fostering knowledge in this area.
Arezou thinks this awareness is not only crucial for students but also for industry professionals and researchers in related fields. Raising that awareness has been her passion in recent years, and she firmly believes support like the one from Ingemar Löfgren strengthens our ability to drive meaningful progress.
About the course
The "Green Cement" course is an inclusive, project-based learning experience open to students, professionals, and industry practitioners at all levels. It focuses on the sustainable transformation of cement production, exploring its history, current challenges, and innovative pathways to achieving carbon neutrality. The course is a so-called Chalmers Tracks course; interdisciplinary and elective courses that do not belong to any specific programme or department and are developed in close collaboration with industry and society.
- Associate Professor, Structural Engineering, Architecture and Civil Engineering
