Lectures and Keynote Speeches

November 2022, I was a keynote speaker at the Symposium on Earthquake Engineering.
Interview with CNN Asia november 2022 https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/25/asia/indonesia-earthquake-resistant-homes-intl-hnk/index.html
March 2018, Seismic Summit in Dublin.
2022, IIT Roorkee. Lecture: Non‐Engineered Seismic Design 2.0’.
March 2018, Seismic Summit in Dublin.
2022, IIT Patna - India. Workshop ‘SMARTnet – Non‐Engineered Seismic Design 2.0’.
February 2016. Key-note Speech ‘Social Design and Emergency Architecture’ at Engineers Without Borders Conference in Ireland.
March 2016. Radio interview for BBC World News " The Inquiry".
May 2016. Key note speaker at the Shelter Innovation- conference, Red Cross Germany, Berlin.
February 2016. Seminar for 50 earthquake engineers at IUSS in Pavia, Italy.
2022, continuing eductaion program, Patna, India.
February 2016. Key-note Speech ‘Social Design and Emergency Architecture’ at Engineers Without Borders Conference in Ireland.
Japan, November 2015. Announcement for general lecture at Tohoku Gakuin University in Sendai.
Announcement for public lecture at School of Nations in Macau, 2013.
2022, Patna Post. Article about the workshop and collaboration.

Lectures Overview

You can create your own event by selecting the topics from the list below:

0. General lecture for large audiences about the work of Smart Shelter Foundation and Smart Shelter Research; overview of projects and research programs. Includes discussion afterwards. (1,5 hour)

1. Introduction about the work of Smart Shelter Foundation and explanation of the design assignments to the participants. (30 minutes)

2. T-Shelters and Semi-Permanent Housing; What can we offer to people in post-disaster areas, when there is minimal finance available for reconstruction? (1 hour)

3. Case Study; Rebuilding after the Tsunami in Sri Lanka; Full description of the design and rebuilding of 170 houses on the east coast, in a post-disaster and conflicted area. (1 hour 15 minutes)

4. Non-Engineered Earthquake Design Principles; The basics of earthquake resistant construction, historic research and testing, design limitations and proper material handling. (2 x 45 minutes)

5. Case Study; Building Earthquake Resistant Mountain Schools in Nepal; Construction overview for building safe schools in remote mountain areas. (1 hour)

6. Seismic Behavior of Non-Engineered Techniques; Design and Research Approaches on Traditional, Alternative and Experimental Building Techniques. (1.5 hour)

7. Building with Earth; An overview of 12 different construction types and examples of vernacular earthen architecture worldwide. (2 x 1 hour)

8. Soil Identification; How to recognize different types of soils and how to modify them for certain construction uses. Includes soil testing assignment. (1/2 day)

9. Case Study; Building a school in India with Earth Blocks; Complete story from design phase, to making blocks and masonry in a small village. (1 hour 15 minutes)

10. Case Studies; Experimental Earth Construction; The pro’s and Con’s of Experimental Earth Techniques, 2 examples in India and Nepal. (45 minutes)

11. Building with Bamboo, examples from all over the world. (1 hour)

12. Wastewide Architecture; Inspiring examples from everywhere, of artists, designers and architects that use secondary materials in their work. (3 x 45 minutes)

13. Engineering for the Bottom of the Pyramid; Improving the lives of people by designing simple devices for lighting, energy, cooking (product design), tools and machinery (mechanical engineering). Includes making a solar cooker from campus waste. (1 full day)

14. Lessons Not Learned; Relief Work and Developing Aid; A Critical View. Why is it difficult to work in developing countries or disaster struck areas, how can we deal with these situations? (1 hour)

Web Lectures

We know that it’s not always possible to organize a workshop event on-site. Web lectures are an excellent solution for this, to still enjoy the Smart Shelter philosophy.

We are currently hosting a series of web lectures at several universities around the world. Please check out our lecture schedule above and let us know which presentations you find interesting for your particular audience. We’ll be happy to inform you about the conditions and can offer you discounts if you decide to attend a series of several lectures.

Keynote Speaker

Smart Shelter Consultancy can be a keynote speaker and workshop leader at seminars, conferences and thematic events that range from one hour to several days.

We offer a range of presentations, such as a general presentation about our philosophy and work. Or thematic presentations and case studies on social design, alternative materials, and safe construction principles.

For a detailed description of all presentations and topics, see the overview of all presentations at the top of this page.

Currently, there’s a great demand for our knowledge on low-tech seismic design, and our research approaches on earthquake behavior of non-engineered building techniques. Organizing a short seminar on this topic is the perfect way to start a long-term research collaboration. We’re currently running a number of successful programs with partners around the world, and we’d be happy to explain how we work with them, or we can write a proposal for you.

If you’d like to learn more about our current research ideas and initiatives, please take a look at our Smart Shelter Research website or contact us for more information.