The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS) and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States of America launched the GCC Conference on Sustainable Built Environment 2019, which is hosted in Kuwait from 11-13 March 2019 at the Marina Hotel, Salwa Sabah Al Ahmed hall.
On this occasion, the Vice Director of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences and the Chairman of the Conference Steering Committee, Dr. Salem AlHajraf representing the Director General of the Foundation, Dr. Adnan Shihabuddin, at the Gulf Conference on Sustainable Built Environment, which was organized to mark the conclusion of a four-year research project. The project was developed jointly by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Kuwait University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The project was developed under the sponsorships of the Kuwait-MIT Institute for Natural Resources and the Environment established by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, with the aim of focusing on the development of innovative solutions through collaborative efforts of researchers in Kuwait and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. AlHajraf explained that this project is designed to focus on three distinct and relevant research areas: the first is sustainable building materials with nanotechnology for durability in difficult environments. The second area is ground motion modeling, structural control of engineering and performance-based reliability. And the third focused on enhancing the efficiency of the operational power and life cycle performance of buildings and cities in Kuwait.
Dr. AlHajraf stated "In the next three days, we look forward to learning the results of this collaborative project, as well as listening to the expertise and recommendations of scientists and other researchers from renowned research and academic institutions, on both regional and international levels. We are also pleased to be joined by government officials, architects, urban planners and policy makers to present their vision regarding the sustainability of Kuwait's built environments and designs for new buildings".
Dr. AlHajraf expressed his sincere appreciation to the key researcher Professor Ural Bjokturk of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for his dedication and exceptional leadership to this multidisciplinary research project. He also thanked the other key researchers, MIT research team members: Boiler, Sidney Yep, Nafie Tokuzoz, Thomas Herring, Christoph Reinhart, John Oxendorf and Conal Cobuad-Patel.
He also expressed his appreciation and thanks to the research team in Kuwait, especially Dr. Hassan Kamal, Engineer Suad Al Bahr, Engineer Jamal AlQazwini, Dr. Ali Hajiah, Dr. Abdullah AlEnezi, Dr. Adel Hussein, Dr. Saud AlOtaibi of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. Also Prof. Ali Bomjadad, Dr. Adel AlMumin of Kuwait University, as well as all local young scientists and researchers for their outstanding performance and dedication to the successful completion of this project.
On her part, the Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research Samira A. Omer expressed her sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), which organized the conference in cooperation with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, where the relationship with the institution dates back decades. The Foundation is one of the main sponsors of research and development projects at the Institute.

She noted that the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and attained its scientific and research achievements. The Institute took the lead in developing practical and sustainable road maps for various sectors in Kuwait, including the construction and energy sectors. Since the early 1970s, the Institute has pioneered the development of knowledge and technology for building materials, infrastructure, energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in the Gulf region. The Institute established the Energy and Construction Research Center in 2010, and its vision was to be at the forefront of providing scientific, technical and creative solutions to the challenges of sustainable development in the energy and construction sectors.
In conclusion, she hoped that the conference will provide scientists and researchers with a platform for open debate to meet the challenges, take advantage of opportunities and find innovative solutions to the sustainable building environment in the Gulf.
On behalf of the Organizing Committee, the President of the Conference and Professor of Chemistry at the College of Science at Kuwait University, Dr. Ali Bomejadad, stated that this conference is very important for Kuwait. It was organized after the successful completion of the “Kuwaiti Sustainable Built Environment” project sponsored by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS). The project has established strong support for international research collaboration between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and research institutions and universities in Kuwait.

Dr. Bomejadad stated that this conference focuses on the common research areas related to Kuwait and the region, specifically the development of sustainable building materials that are strong to the active and challenging environment in the Gulf region, and designed to possess superior physical properties using sustainable, locally available raw materials, ground motion modeling and structural control for engineering performance assessment. Also design systems using advanced materials and energy efficiency as well as improve the efficiency of the operational and performance of buildings and neighborhoods in Kuwait, and educational programs and follow the conditions and policies for the field of sustainable urban environment.
Dr. Bomejadad looked forward to completing the scientific conference with informative presentations and the holding of scientific discussions with researchers from Kuwait and around the world.
He then thanked the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) for financial care and all other organized institutions such as the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Kuwaiti Society of Engineers. He also thanked Professor Oral Bujukturk and Dr. Hassan Kamal who were behind the idea of the project and thus the conference.
The conference began with a keynote lecture by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Vice President Richard Leicester. The conference lasted for three days which 65 scientific lectures were presented and many posters were presented with the participation and attendance of about 250 specialists from 17 different countries. On the third day, the conference organized four free training courses on different topics such as: advanced Characterization of Cement, solar energy for sustainable buildings with less energy, the basics of monitoring structural health of buildings and their new applications, and finally energy efficiency analysis of large-scale energy efficiency programs for the building environment.