Monash Engineering celebrates ARC Laureate Fellow Professor Wenhui Duan
Pictured left to right: Professor Mike Ryan Pro Vice Chancellor (Research); Professor Huanting Wang, Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor and Australian Laureate Fellow; Professor Yiannis Ventikos Dean Faculty of Engineering ; Professor Wenhui Duan ARC Laureate Fellow; Professor Sharon Pickering Vice Chancellor and President Monash University; Professor Ha Bui Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering; and Professor Hai Vu Deputy Dean Research Faculty of Engineering
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has awarded Monash University’s Professor Wenhui Duan a 2025 Australian Laureate Fellowship for his project, “Re-imagining concrete as a carbon sink.”
The prestigious Laureate Fellowships support world-class researchers to undertake transformative projects in Australia, fostering innovation, research capacity and mentorship for the next generation of scholars.
With $3.76 million in ARC funding, Professor Duan’s research aims to revolutionise one of the world’s most widely used materials - concrete - by transforming it from a major carbon emitter into a carbon uptake system that contributes to global climate change mitigation.
Currently, concrete production accounts for around 8–9 per cent of global CO₂ emissions. Professor Duan’s project seeks to better understand how concrete interacts with carbon dioxide, advancing methods to capture and store CO₂ within the material itself.
Expected outcomes include a model for climate-friendly concrete production; a big-data-driven research pipeline for concrete innovation; and the training of a new generation of multidisciplinary researchers. The project promises significant environmental benefits, including a substantial reduction in the carbon footprint of the construction sector and progress toward more sustainable urban development.
The ceremony, attended by the Monash research community and Professor Duan’s family featured speeches from Monash University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sharon Pickering and Dean of Engineering, Professor Yiannis Ventikos.
On behalf of the Monash community, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sharon Pickering commended and recognised the significance of Professor Duan’s achievement saying “Monash could not be prouder of you. We are here to support you, all of your research team and your research program as part of this Laureate, every step of the way. And we so look forward to everything that you will both discover and that you will apply.”
She also highlighted the broader impact of his research, saying “Congratulations on such a significant and career-defining achievement. Your breakthrough research…has the potential to transform concrete…from a major source of emissions for a powerful tool to for climate change mitigation.
The Faculty of Engineering’s Dean, Professor Yiannis Ventikos hailed Professor Duan’s innovative project as one that embodies the spirit of innovation that drives Monash Engineering and Australian research forward. “I am particularly proud and happy because this award for Professor Duan recognises scientific excellence of the highest calibre of course, but also recognises true – intimately entangled – efforts towards global warming and consequently our 2030 Plan,” he said.
By reimagining concrete as a carbon sink, Professor Duan and his team are not only transforming one of the world’s most used materials, but also reshaping how humanity builds for a sustainable future.
Learn more about Professor Wenhui Duan’s pioneering research here.
