On November 19, 2024, Okayama University hosted the 3rd Global Seminar on Sustainable and Earthquake Resilient Structures at the Okayama Visionary Commons. This seminar was organized by Associate Professor Hamood Alwashali from the Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology (also a member of the Green Innovation Center) and co-organized by Tohoku Forum for Creativity at Tohoku University. This year's theme was "Timber Structures." More than 60 participants, including researchers, students, and professionals from the architecture industry, gathered from around the world. The seminar discussed and shared knowledge about the latest innovations in sustainable timber architecture, with contributions from researchers at universities in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden, and Japan.

The seminar began with remarks from Director ABE Masanobu of the Green Innovation Center. Director Abe emphasized the importance of timber structures in achieving sustainable and resilient cities, explaining that this was the motivation behind the establishment of the Green Innovation Center at Okayama University. He also emphasized the importance of international collaboration in addressing global challenges.

Six researchers then delivered insightful lectures, which were followed by an engaging Q&A session and networking opportunities. These interactions fostered active idea exchange and strengthened cross-border cooperation. Finally, Dr. Alwashali concluded with final remarks: "This event will not only be an opportunity to advance teaching and research of timber construction but also strengthen international collaboration in addressing global issues."

The Green Innovation Center at Okayama University and the Tohoku Forum for Creativity at Tohoku University will continue to aim for further advancements in sustainable building technologies, based on the insights and connections gained from this seminar.

Speakers at the event:
Dr. Yutaka Goto (Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden): Presented international perspectives on sustainable practices in wooden structures.
Dr. Lisa Ottenhaus (The University of Queensland, Australia): Gave a talk on innovative designs for achieving reusable wooden structures.
Dr. Gary Raftery (The University of Auckland, New Zealand): Addressed challenges and solutions related to the durability of joints in outdoor environments.
Dr. Robert Jockwer (Dresden University of Technology, Germany): Presented cutting-edge research on the reliability assessment of modern wooden buildings.
Dr. Kouji Fukumoto (Okayama University, Japan): Delivered a lecture on the development of composite beams combining CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) and steel.
Dr. Masaki Maeda (Tohoku University, Japan): Discussed the role of timber in enhancing urban resilience and forest sustainability.