Dr. Ranjith Pathegama

Ranjith is a full Professor in Geomechanics and he joined Monash University in 2003, after working in the Geotechnical and Rock Engineering unit at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

Prof Ranjith is the founder and the director of the Deep Earth Energy laboratory at Monash university. He is the current Head of the Geomecahnics Group. He was the former Director of Research and Director of Research Training for the Department of Civil Engineering, and the Deputy Head of Department Civil Eng.

He has published over total of 250 refereed research outputs, including one book, ten book chapters, and 165 journal papers.

Prof Ranjith has received over $16.8m funding and co-ordinated 26 research grants to successful completion, including ARC (Australian Research Council) Discovery grants, ARC Linkage grants, ARC LIEF grants, CRC grant, Industry grants, Australia-China grants, European Framework Programs (FP6 and FP7).

Prof Ranjith’s expertise covers: Geological sequestration of carbon dioxide, Unconventional oil and gas(Shale gas, tight gas, coal seam gas), Petroleum geomechanics, Deep geothermal energy, Mining geomechanics, Rock and Soil Mechanics, Enhanced oil recovery methodologies (EOR), Sand production from unconsolidated reservoirs.

He is the Editor-in-Chief of Geomechanics and Geophysics for GeoEnergy and GeoResource, Springer (a dedicated journal for resources and energy including oil/gas) . In addition, he severs to many journal editorial board including an Assistant Editor of Journal of Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources, Elsevier; Editorial board member of Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Springer and Editorial board member of Engineering Geology, and Heliyon, Elsevier.

He was awarded the ARC Future Fellowship (2009) for his research work to combat climate change, as well as the Australian Leadership award in 2013.

Topic of Keynote: An Experimental Study of Geomechanics Aspects of CO₂ Sequestration in Saline Aquifers

Keynote Abstract

Dr. K. van Breugel

Prof.dr.ir. K. van Breugel is full professor at the faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences of Delft University of Technology. He became employed at the university in the division of Concrete Structures in 1979. In the period 1980 – 1990 he was involved in research projects related to bulk storage of hazardous materials, like LNG, LPG and concrete protective structures. He got his PhD in Delft in 1991 with his research on numerical simulation of the microstructure of cement-based materials.

In 1999 dr. van Breugel became full professor on Concrete Modelling and Materials Behaviour in the division of Concrete Structures. In 2002 he was appointed director of the Micromechanical Laboratory of the faculty Civil Engineering and Geosciences. From 2003 until 2007 he was Director of Study of the faculty Civil Engineering and Geosciences. In 2008 he was appointed head of the division of Materials and Environment.

Professor van Breugel is member of several international organisations ACI, RILEM, IABSE, IALCCE and fib. He is (co-)author of about 600 conference and journal papers and editor of several books, reports and conference proceedings. In 2013 the Ageing Centre for Materials and Structures was launched under his supervision.

Topic of Keynote: Ageing infrastructure and circular economy: challenges and risks

Keynote Abstract