NZSEE 2021

On behalf of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) we warmly invite you to join us at the NZSEE Annual Technical Conference to be held at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand on 14 – 16 April 2021.

This year we have chosen the conference theme of The Christchurch Earthquake 10^th Anniversary: Turning Challenges into Positive Legacies. We seek to bring together practitioners and researchers to reflect on the lessons learnt over the last 10 years since the Christchurch Earthquake and how these learnings are being implemented to leave a positive legacy for future generations and a more resilient Aotearoa.

The technical programme will include keynote addresses and special sessions on the current and future challenges facing earthquake engineers. There will be sessions on seismic retrofit case studies, use of digital and emerging technologies, research developments in earthquake engineering, advances in the field of geotechnical engineering, social and policy impacts of disasters, and developments in resilience and low-damage design.

Beyond the technical programme, the conference provides a chance for peers to reconnect face-to-face after a disruptive year that saw the cancellation of the 2020 NZSEE conference. We are planning on holding the event in person; however, it does appear that the risk of disruption due to COVID-19 is likely to remain. Plans are therefore being put in place for international speakers to join virtually and, in a worst-case scenario, for the whole conference to be moved online.

The conference venue is the University of Canterbury and a number of additional events will be held in the Christchurch CBD, which provides attendees with a chance to see the progression of this rapidly changing and recovering city.

Please note the key dates for abstract and paper submission.  As the conference date draws closer the website will be updated with details of the keynote speakers, programme and other conference activities.

We look forward to welcoming you all to Christchurch for an enjoyable conference, as we look back on the challenges from the last 10 years, and undertake robust discussion on the future of earthquake engineering.

Matt Fox

NZSEE 2021 Convenor