A long-standing tradition of fib, the PhD Symposia started in 1996. They were established by Prof. Balázs in Budapest to support young researchers and practitioners. Since then, fib National Groups have organised eleven symposia. The PhD Symposia have become highly recognised events, with the participation of international experts attending as PhD supervisors or keynote speakers. A two-year interval between each symposium allows for thorough preparation and for a sufficient amount of new research results. The symposia are exclusively organised at universities, which creates a relaxed and friendly atmosphere suited to young researchers.

The 12th fib Symposium will be held in Prague, returning to Europe after two overseas editions in Québec (2014) and Tokyo (2016). Two organisations are involved in the preparation: the Czech Technical University in Prague and the Czech Concrete Society (representing the national fib group). The Symposium will take place at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague.

The organisers were initially surprised by the high number of students interested in participating. A large number of abstracts was received after the first deadline, raising concerns about whether the Symposium could be organised in its usual format. However, fewer full papers than anticipated were eventually submitted, allowing the event to proceed as planned. Nevertheless, some organisational adjustments were required due to the relatively high number of contributions. The Scientific Committee decided to divide the presentations into oral presentations and posters. This is a new feature, as no poster sessions were organised in previous Symposia. The scientific programme is organised into four parallel sessions over three days.

It is also important to note that the scientific programme will be enriched by three distinguished speakers who will address current topics in civil engineering. Prof. E. Brühwiler from Lausanne will speak about new materials. Prof. J. Strásky from Brno will discuss the effects of prestressing on structural behaviour, and Prof. H. Corres, President of fib, will focus on conceptual design. These topics—new materials, new technologies, and conceptual design—are essential and encompass related aspects such as structural performance, safety, aesthetics, economy, and sustainability.

The Symposium, as a platform for sharing experience, cannot be organised without a social programme. The welcome reception, as well as the informal conference dinner, will help facilitate networking among young participants. I am also pleased that the fib Young Members Group will participate in the organisation of the PhD Symposium for the first time in Prague. They will contribute to the evaluation of presentations and the awarding of the Best Paper Presentation.

Last but not least, I would like to express my gratitude to all sponsors who contributed to the organisation of the Symposium. Without their support, it would be very difficult to maintain both the scientific quality and the social standard of previous Symposia.

Finally, I wish all participants—especially the PhD students—an inspiring and rewarding event. I hope that this Symposium will remain in their memories as an important step in their scientific careers and perhaps also in their involvement in fib activities. The international environment may also help develop relationships between participants and contribute to mutual understanding between different cultures and countries, which is one of the strengths of fib.

Jan L. Vítek
Czech Technical University in Prague and Metrostav a.s., Prague