The two-day international conference organized by the Department of Civil Engineering at B.I.T. Sindri concluded  on Tuesday with presentation of  around 50 research papers during  various technical sessions.

Environmental degradation faced in Jharia coalfields too was part of discussions during one of the sessions.

Experts from different fields, both domestic and international, presented  addressed participants  during the event.

In opening  session, Chief Guest Dr. B. Bhattacharya, Professor at IIT Delhi, extensively discussed the topic "Sustainable Development, Carbon Emissions, and Challenges in Civil Engineering."He  deeply explored the development of environmental laws and provided detailed insights on topics such as biological capacity and the ecological footprint. During his address, he explained the effects of Earth's energy cycle and carbon cycle, emphasizing their impact on the environment and human life.

Concluding his talk, Dr. Bhattacharya stressed the importance of environmental conservation, urging collective efforts to control greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate their adverse effects. He conveyed the message that addressing these challenges promptly can lead to a balanced and prosperous future.

The second expert of the lecture series was Prof. (Dr.) S.K. Das, a distinguished professor at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. He delivered an important lecture based on his experience and research, focusing on recycling construction materials and waste emissions. Highlighting the utility of waste, he elaborated on its various chemical compositions and the potential for creating new useful materials through recycling. Using the example of fly ash, he demonstrated its application in eco-friendly bricks and concrete construction.

At the end of this session, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Shukla, the conference secretary and founder and chief editor of the International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering, delved into the use of recyclable materials and environmental conservation perspectives. He discussed ways to reintegrate waste into nature without harming the environment, emphasizing the benefits of shallow foundations considering soil properties, costs, and suitable materials.

In another session, Dr. Pijush Samui, Professor at NIT Patna, extensively discussed the topic "Use of Data-Driven Models in Civil Engineering." He elaborated on the utility of data-driven models in enhancing decision-making accuracy and effectiveness in construction, structural safety, transportation, water resources, and other civil engineering fields.

Dr. Sunil Kumar Gupta, Professor and expert in Environmental Science and Engineering at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, was the second expert in this session. He presented a lecture on sustainable solutions for water management. Discussing the growing threats of climate change and water scarcity, he highlighted effective and sustainable water management strategies and  elaborated on the groundwater depletion and pollution challenges in the Jharia coalfield area, identifying it as a pressing issue. He suggested solutions such as rainwater harvesting, soil and water conservation, and afforestation near mining areas.

Continuing the session, Dr. Fernanda B. Ferreira from Portugal's University of Aveiro discussed "Multistage Pullout Test of Uniaxial Geogrid in Granite Residues Soil" via an online medium. Dr. Ferreira is a recipient of the ISSMGE Bright Spark Lecture Award and the Young IGS Award.

After the conclusion of the lecture series, Conference Secretary Dr. Brahmdev Yadav delivered the vote of thanks.

In the evening, a cultural program organized by students delighted all attendees. The performances were highly praised by the guests, who commended the students not only for their academic achievements but also for their outstanding cultural presentations. 

The event witnessed full participation from undergraduate and postgraduate students of the institute. The success of the program was significantly attributed to the contributions of Prof. Prafulla Kumar Sharma, Dr. Maya Rajnarayan Ray, Dr. Nishikant Kisku, Dr. Brahmdev Yadav, Dr. Komal Kumari, Dr. Abhijeet Anand, Prof. Iqbal Sheikh, Prof. Saroj Meena, Prof. Prashant Ranjan Malviya besides others.