Professor Kevin Paine
Professor of Infrastructure Materials at the University of Bath
Engineering
While most people see concrete as a grey, static and lifeless material, Kevin Paine sees something very different. Working at the fascinating intersection of engineering and biology, he draws inspiration from the ways living organisms grow, adapt and repair themselves. For Kevin, concrete is not simply a construction material, but something that can be smart, responsive and capable of change. His research explores ways for concrete to heal its own cracks, from networks inspired by blood vessels to bacteria that help materials repair themselves and last longer.
Kevin's interests lie in making the infrastructure around us last longer and work better. In many ways, he thinks that the ideal outcome of his research is that people do not notice it at all because the roads, bridges and buildings we rely on continue to function without interruption.
Recognising that concrete is both part of the climate challenge and essential to many of its solutions, Kevin believes the answer is not to abandon the material, but to use it more wisely. Through lower-carbon concrete, longer-lasting infrastructure and improving existing structures, he is exploring how one of the world's most important construction materials can become more sustainable.
By looking beyond concrete's reputation as a static construction material, Kevin is exploring how it can become smarter, longer lasting and more sustainable. Through this work, he is revealing new possibilities for a material that quietly underpins much of modern life, finding potential where others see permanence.
