Head of School Scientia Professor Nasser Khalili announced the promotions earlier this month. ‘This wonderful achievement’ he said, ‘recognises Ali and Kurt’s exceptional contribution to research, education, leadership, and engagement.’
Both Ali and Kurt have been huge contributors not just to the School or UNSW – their impact reaches well beyond campus.
A/Prof Kurt Douglas holds an industry supported position - Pells Sullivan Meynink Senior Lectureship of Rock Mechanics, as well as being the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering’s Associate Head for Engagement. He is also the Chair of the External Relations Committee, a position he has held for eleven years.
Kurt has been a tireless advocate for UNSW Civil & Environmental Engineering – in attracting students, informing parents, teachers and career advisers, organising effective promotion and representation of the School at Open Days, supporting outreach activities, and women in engineering events and programs.
As an education-focused academic, he is a keen proponent of increasing student experience of the outside world – leading site visits and tours for his geotechnical classes as well as the annual Year 10 work experience program.
Kurt’s research looks at how to better predict the properties of rock so that we can more efficiently design foundations, tunnels, slopes and dams. His work seeks to improve our understanding and hence predictive capabilities of the behaviour of rock at the field scale using laboratory and field-based studies. His research covers rockfill and rock mass strength and deformation as well as erosion prediction of spillways, and piping behaviour within embankment dams.
A/Prof Ali Kashani leads pioneering research in sustainable and low-carbon concrete and cementitious materials tailored for the construction and mining industries. His primary focus revolves around the development of innovative high-performance materials and techniques for robot-aided construction, particularly in the realm of 3D printing.
Another significant aspect of Dr. Kashani's research lies in sustainable concrete applications aligned with the principles of the 'Circular Economy.' His work encompasses waste valorisation, carbon capture and mineralization, and alkali-activated materials (geopolymers).
Dr Kashani has led and participated in multiple research projects, securing substantial funding from both government entities and private industries, amounting to a total of approximately $7 million. His research outcome includes a patent and over 80 publications, garnering an impressive citation count of over 13,000.
Dr Kashani has led and participated in multiple research projects, securing substantial funding from both government entities and private industries, amounting to a total of approximately $7 million. His research outcome includes a patent and over 80 publications, garnering an impressive citation count of over 13,000.
Dr Kashani received prestigious awards such as the National Award for 'Excellence in Concrete' in Technology and Innovation in 2023 from the Concrete Institute of Australia. Additionally, his expertise has been recognized through a Churchill Fellowship for Digital Construction and 3D Printing. His groundbreaking research has been featured in mainstream media outlets, including articles in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Fifth State.
Beyond his research endeavours, Dr Kashani actively participates in professional community engagement. He serves as the Co-Chair of the cement and concrete working group at the Materials Embodied Carbon Leaders Alliance (MECLA). Dr Kashani has further demonstrated his leadership by establishing the Innovative Decarbonised Infrastructure initiative at UNSW.
