The Geopolymer Camp 2025, was held on July 7th to July 9th at the Campus of the University of Picardie, in Saint-Quentin, France. You will find below the Keynote conferences and the list of short communications.
Special Thanks to our Sponsors:
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Geosil®: Silicate binders and hardeners for geopolymeric systems
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Keynote Conference in video
State of the Geopolymer R&D 2025
Keynote by Joseph Davidovits.
38 min, 158 MB. Click on the CC icon to ACTIVATE SUBTITLES. Watch it fullscreen.
At the 17th Geopolymer Camp, Professor Joseph Davidovits delivers a special keynote to celebrate his 90th birthday. Instead of the usual technical R&D update, he shares the fascinating and personal story of how a tragic fire in the 1970s led him to invent Geopolymer science. He recounts his journey, the unexpected connections to archaeology, and the challenges he faced in establishing this revolutionary field. A must-watch for anyone interested in innovation and perseverance.
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
01:16 – Part 1: How I Invented Geopolymer Science
01:23 – Early Life and Ambition
04:25 – University and PhD in Organic Polymers
08:50 – The Spark: A Tragic Fire in 1970
10:39 – Creating the First Research Company, CORDI S.A.
11:42 – First Scientific Papers and Introducing the Term “Geopolymer”
14:14 – Founding the Geopolymer Institute (1979)
17:20 – Developing Applications for Geopolymers
19:43 – Part 2: Geopolymer Science and Archaeology
19:52 – Debunking the Myth About the Pyramids
22:37 – A Key Question: Could Ancient Monuments Be Artificial Stone?
25:00 – Presenting the Pyramid Theory to Egyptologists
28:46 – Financial Troubles and a Surprising Media Breakthrough
32:07 – How Omni Magazine Led to a Partnership with Lone Star Industries
33:40 – The Pyrament® Cement Story and Financial Recovery
34:56 – Academic Career and Awards
36:26 – The First Geopolymer Camp (2008)
36:40 – Conclusion
36:53 – Happy Birthday Professor!
ACCESS TO THE PRESENTATIONS
Download and read the presentations given in front of the Geopolymer Camp attendance. Click here to access to the files.
PROGRAMME
The GeopolymerCamp 2025 spanned 3 days:
SPECIAL TOPICS OF INTEREST:
– Tutorial Workshop (short courses) for Newcomers, on Monday;
– Focused Sessions:
1- Celebrating Joseph Davidovits 90th Birthday !!!
2- Computer Simulations of Geopolymer Paste and Practical Application in 3D Printing
3- Nano-Molecular Geopolymer Chemistry, advancing new materials yet to be discovered
MONDAY, July 7: TUTORIAL/WORKSHOP
08:15-09:00: Registration to TUTORIAL
09:00-14:00: Workshop and tutorial with laboratory demonstrations (Groups A + B) involving 3 standard recipes.
12:00-13:00: Free Sandwich Lunch Group B
13:00-14:00: Free Sandwich Lunch Group A
14:00-16:00: Short Courses and Q&A
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14:00-16:00 Registration to GEOPOLYMER CAMP
TUESDAY, July 8: GEOPOLYMER CAMP
08:30: Registration
09:00-09:15: Welcome and messages.
09:15-10:00: Keynote by Joseph Davidovits: State of the Geopolymer R&D, 2025 with special emphasis on recent developments.
10:00-12:05 First session: geopolymer molecular chemistry; raw materials, scientific investigations.
– Joerg Lind, Wöllner GmbH, Germany: Geosil – ready to use alkali silicates for Geopolymers.
– Carine Lefèvre, Xatico, Luxembourg: Metakaolins and mineral fillers in geopolymers.
– Richard Wyn Huws, Penygroes, Gwynedd, UK: Introducing the huge potential of slate powder as a geopolymer raw material.
11:00-11:30: Coffee break
– Joseph Davidovits: Nano-Molecular Geopolymer Chemistry, advancing new materials yet to be discovered
12:05 Second Session: 3D Printing
Keynote by PhD Abrar Gasmi, Picardie Jules Verne University, Saint-Quentin, France: Computer Simulations of Geopolymer Paste and Practical Application in 3D Printing.
– Siim Koor, Intelligent Materials and Systems Lab, University of Tartu, Estonia: Adaptation of Commercial 3D Clay Printers for Tabletop Fabrication of Geopolymer-Binder-Based Concrete Structures.
13:00 Free Sandwich Lunch
14:15-17:15: Third Session (part 1): industrial applications, building applications, eco-construction, LTGS, bricks, cements, concretes, CO2 mitigation, Global Warming.
– Cui Yuansheng, China Bulk Cement Association of Promotion & Development (CBCA): Progress of Geopolymer Industrialization in China.
– Erik Amesz, Adviesbureau NET, Cuijk, Netherlands: Biochar in Geopolymer concrete.
– BoSheng Liu, Feng Chia University, School of Architecture, Taichung, Taiwan: Utilizing Manufacturing Paper Sludge as Metakaolin with Engineered Biochar for Geopolymer Binder Systems.
– Mouhamadou Amar, CERI Matériaux et Procédés, IMT Nord Europe, Douai, France: Geopolymer application for concrete and brick technology.
– Alex Reggiani, GeoMITS, Italy: Geopolymer Draining Systems: Performance Flooring for Pools and Wet Zones.
16:10-16:40 Coffee break
– Chenmeng Zhang, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK: Geopolymer in self-sensing application.
– Jean-Baptiste Labrune and Marcelo Coelho, M.I.T. Cambridge, USA: Geolectric, Sustainable, Low-Carbon Ceramics for Embedded Electronics and Interaction Design.
WEDNESDAY, July 9 : GEOPOLYMER CAMP
9:10-10:15: Focused Session : Geopolymer and Archaeology
– Joseph and Ralph Davidovits: Presentation of the 4-year R&D project CUSCO-GP (Comprehensive Understanding of Stone Construction Origin – Geopolymer Project); it includes the 2-year scientific research project AGILE (Ancient Geopolymer Investigation and Lithic Experimentation) on the application of geopolymer chemistry and dating in archaeology.
CUSCO-GP is a joint research project between the Geopolymer Institute Laboratory (GIL), Saint-Quentin, France and the State University of Arizona, Tempe, USA, Prof. Don Seo. This R&D project is supported by the Athanatos Foundation (Brian Muraresku), Delaware (USA) and the American philanthropist Eugene Jhong.
– Marco Scalet, Calchèra San Giorgio, Valsugana (Trento), Italy: Geopolymers for Restauration of Ancient and Contemporary Arts.
10:15-10:45 Coffee break
10:45 Third Session (part 2): Geopolymer Concrete
– Ramon Skane, Reformix Materials Group, Perth, Western Australia: our experience with industrial by-products in the industry scale-up of Geopolymer concrete works.
– Venicius Sampaio, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Pampulha, Brasil: Scaling up geopolymer technology using different types of mining wastes.
– Abdelrahman Al Kuhaymi, Siefco, Riyadh, Saudi-Arabia: geopolymer paver block manufacturing facilities in Dammam, in combination with natural Saudi pozzolan.
– Frederic Thole, Kortmann Beton, Schüttorf, Germany: Industrial production of geopolymer concrete for use in electrical infrastructure.
– Jasper Vitse, Katlyn Caerels and Jiabin Li, KU Leuven – Bruges, Belgium: CDW-based geopolymer mortar with different binder-to-sand ratios.
– Miguel Otero et.al., AIMEN Technology Center, Spain: Optimizing CDW-Based Geopolymer Mortars for Additive Manufacturing.
13:05 – 15:30 Free Sandwich Lunch – Networking – Open discussions
– Groups – Discussions
– Materials Sciences + Products ; – Materials Technology & Engineering (+ civil engineering)
– Cements – Concretes (+ raw materials, adjuvants); – Sustainable / Eco Construction.
Photo Gallery
