On Friday September 18, 2009 a prestigious and happy ceromony took place: The handing over ceremony of the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) Leadership. TUCSA Chair Prof. Dr. Nesrin YARDIMCI replaced Spain s ASCEM Chair Joan Delriu Real as the ECCS Chair for the next period. Prof. Yard1mc1 in her address expressed that every establishment from time to time takes stock and this was to be observed in ECCS s vision, aims, and targets to be with the current world conjunture during her time as its Chairwoman.
ECCS Executive Board President Dr. Volkmar Bergmann (Germany) pointed to the significance of this ceremony saying Prof. Yard1mc1 is the first female president of ECCS since its establishment in 1955 and she will be an asset for the ECCS organization.
Second significant fact of the ceremony is that Turkey after nearly a decade has become the term Chair for the second time. TUCSA founded in 1992 has since been an active member of ECCS. The first Turkish term Chairship seven years after it became a member of the ECCS, was in 1999-2000, executed by Prof. Dr. Tevfik Seno ARDA. Today ECCS represent 23 countries.
Steel sector, in the aftermath of Second World War has played an important role in rebuilding the devastated Europe and the formation of European Union. This was realized by the steps below:
18 April 1951: Agreement for the establishment of European Convention for Steel and Coal-ECSC
10 February 1953: Opening of the coal, iron ore and scrap iron common market
01 May 1953: Founding of the common steel market
10 October 1955: Founding of the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork-ECCS
Prof. YARDIMCI who will be undoubtedly invaluable for ECCS until 24 September 2010 when the term ends, also stated that she will be taking responsibility with contributions from all the structural steel sector members . TUCSA will be organizing Steel Structures: Culture & Sustainability 2010 an international symposium (www.sscs2010.org/" http://www.sscs2010.org/) next year parallel to the ECCS annual meeting in 0stanbul, the European Capital of Culture. One of the key-note speakers architect Alessandro ZOPPINI (Italy) is expected to add delight to the event. Same week ECCS Steel Bridge Competition 2010 Awards Ceremony and the 11th Structural Steel Day will be taking place alongside the Structural Steel Conference.