One of the awarded theses, Low Carbon Strategies for Reinforced Concrete Buildings: Insights from Life Cycle Assessment of a Swedish Case Study, was written by Jasheela Arakkal at Linnaeus University, Faculty of Technology, Department of Building Technology, and examined by Björn Johannesson. The thesis applies life cycle assessment to a Swedish case study to evaluate strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of reinforced concrete buildings. The results provide insights into how design choices and material selection can significantly lower environmental impact while maintaining structural performance.
The second awarded thesis, Combining Technical and Organisational Insights to Promote Reuse of Structural Concrete, was written by Maija Isaksson and Elin Johansson Hälleström at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The work was examined by Johan Silfwerbrand and combines technical analysis with organizational perspectives to identify barriers and opportunities for reusing structural concrete. The thesis highlights how improved collaboration, incentives, and technical solutions can increase reuse and reduce the demand for new concrete materials.
“The Family Thomas Foundation aims to promote scientific research and education in the field of concrete, with a strong focus on sustainability. It is encouraging to see this year’s awarded theses address both life cycle-based carbon reduction and concrete reuse, which are key areas for the industry’s transition,” says Hans Karlander, CEO and President of Thomas Concrete Group AB.
The Family Thomas Foundation was established by the Thomas family, owners of Thomas Concrete Group AB, which operates in the USA, Germany, Poland, Norway, and Sweden. Through scholarships and research grants, the foundation supports academic work that contributes to more sustainable concrete construction and reduced climate impact in the built environment.
Applications for the next scholarship period are now open. Scholarships will be awarded for MSc theses completed between 2025-09-01 and 2026-08-31.
Nominations are to be made by the students’ examiners no later than 2026-12-20.
