Lab2Slab: Bridging innovation and practice
Advancing Innovative and Durable Concrete from Research to Real-World Implementation
2026 Listening Session Series: Barriers to Implementing Innovative Concrete Materials
Feb. 3, 10, and 20, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. PST via Zoom | This new series, presented by UCPRC, ACI Foundation, NEU, and MDSC, explores barriers to implementing emerging concrete technologies across the value chain. Each session focuses on a specific stakeholder group and will inform an action-oriented roadmap. Register for the session most relevant to your role and share your challenges, questions, and ideas. Transportation infrastructure relies heavily on energy- and resource-intensive materials such as cement and concrete. Emerging materials and technologies offer opportunities to improve efficiency and durability while reducing life-cycle costs. Realizing these opportunities requires understanding the real-world challenges, questions, and uncertainties faced by those who design, produce, and build infrastructure. Join the discussion in the following listening
Save the date: April 23rd Lab2Slab Open House
Lab2Slab will kick off the next construction season with an open house on April 23rd. Please save this date and keep an eye out for additional details in the coming weeks.
Special Webinar: Lab2Slab2Practice: Framework for a Faster Pace of Implementation of Novel Concrete Materials and Technology
Wednesday, July 16th, 2025 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm Somayeh Nassiri, Associate Professor of UC Davis and Principal Investigator at the University of California Pavement Research Center Watch Video Lab2Slab2Practice presents a comprehensive risk management framework for accelerating the adoption of low-carbon concrete into standard practice based on systematic evaluation. The framework draws upon social behavioral models, including Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model, Diffusion of Innovations (DOI), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to help identify and manage risks. These methods help to guide the novel technology integration process by addressing early adopters, building performance expectancy, reducing perceived user effort, leveraging social influence, and facilitating conditions. By reliable, fast throughput experimentation at laboratory and slab scales,