100 Climate Conversations: Vivian Tam

A key ingredient of concrete and the foundation of much of modern society, cement production accounts for 8 per cent of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions. Visionary engineer Vivian Tam co-invented Ecobond CO2 concrete, a recycled concrete with the potential to revolutionise building by reducing waste and concrete production emissions.

See Vivian Tam in conversation with journalist Yaara Bou Melhem, recorded live at Powerhouse as part of 100 Climate Conversations. Entry is free, but bookings are essential as places are limited. Doors open at 2.45pm for a 3.00pm start. No late admittance.

100 Climate Conversations is a two-year survey of visionary Australians who are accelerating the net zero carbon revolution. To find out more and subscribe to the podcast visit 100climateconversations.com.

Vivian Tam is a construction engineer and academic who is one of the co-inventors of Ecobond CO2 Concrete, which uses a new method of injecting carbon dioxide into recycled aggregate to improve the bonding process. The process diverts waste from landfill and lowers emissions, while producing a recycled concrete with matching properties and strength of virgin concrete – so it is suitable for more uses. Tam is an Associate Dean (Research and Higher Degree Research) in the School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment at Western Sydney University. She edits two international academic journals and is a member of the Australian Research Council’s College of Experts.

Yaara Bou Melhem is a Walkley award-winning journalist and documentary maker who has made films in the remotest corners of Australia and around the world. Her debut documentary feature, Unseen Skies, which interrogates the inner workings of mass surveillance, computer vision and artificial intelligence through the works of US artist Trevor Paglen was screened in competition at the 2021 Sydney Film Festival. She is currently directing a series for the ABC and is the inaugural journalist-in-residence at the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism & Ideas working on journalistic experimental film.