Mr. Tadesse Mergiaw Miretu has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University (BiT-BDU), in the department of Construction Engineering and Management, Faculty of Civil and Water Resource Engineering. His study, “Bending Performance Assessment of Oxythenatera Abysinica Bamboo for Scaffolding and Shoring Works," was supervised by Dr. Denamo Addissie, Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development (EIABC), from Addis Ababa University and Prof. James Geodert, Durham School of Architectural Engineering & Construction, from University of Nebraska–Lincoln, USA. 
Tadesse's study aimed to investigate the structural performance of Ethiopian lowland (Oxytenathera Abyssinica) bamboo for scaffolding and shoring construction by analyzing its failure behavior under bending loads, evaluating the influence of nodes on bolt connection strength, optimizing bending capacity through culm bundling strategies, and developing predictive models based on geometric parameters for reliable design and standardization.
Furthermore, the study evaluated mechanical properties of Oxytenanthera Abyssinica bamboo and the concomitant failure modes under bending loads; splitting capacity solid culm bamboo culms characterized by hole-node distances in bolt connections subjected to perpendicular to fiber; load-sharing mechanisms in bundled culms to enhance load capacity and compensate for individual weaknesses; and predictive mathematical models using geometric parameters to enable standardized.
External examiners Dr. Abrham Gebre and Dr. Kassahun Admassu, both from Addis Abeba University, evaluated the dissertation defense. Throughout the defense, Mr. Tadesse provided thorough and in-depth responses to a variety of insightful questions and remarks from both the internal examiners and the audience.

The FCWRE wishes to congratulate Dr. Tadesse Mergiaw Miretu on this remarkable academic achievement!