The International Society for Soil Mechanics

and Geotechnical Engineering

ISSMGE FOUNDATION

Activity report 2010 – 2011

December 2011

Table of Contents

Foundation Report 2

Purpose of the Foundation 2

Foundation Funding 2

List of Donors to the ISSMGE Foundation 3

Procedure for Awarding Grants 3

Awards to Date 4

Impact of ISSMGE Foundation 5

Appendix 6

7 Reports from Foundation Grant Recipients 7

6ICEG Report - Imen Said 7

5ICEGE Report - Juan Ayala 9

5ICEGE Report - Gacitua Carcamo 10

5ICEGE Report - Jara Ortiz 11

14th ARC Report - Priyankara 13

14th Pan-Am 2011 Report - Quevedo Sotolongo 15

14th Pan-Am 2011 Report - Gonzalez Haramboure 19

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ISSMGE FOUNDATION

2010-2011 Report

1. PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION

The Foundation of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical

Engineering (ISSMGE) was created to provide financial help to geotechnical engineers

throughout the world who wish to further their geotechnical engineering knowledge and

enhance their practice through various activities. These activities include attending

conferences, participating in continuing education events, purchasing geotechnical

reference books and manuals. The financial assistance is in the form of a grant which the

successful applicant can use to pay registration costs, and travel and accommodation

expenses. Only applications from current members of ISSMGE are considered.

2. FOUNDATION FUNDING

Funding for the ISSMGE Foundation will be generated from companies and individuals

who care about the well-being of less fortunate geotechnical engineers in the world. The

funding levels are as follows:

Diamond: $50,000 and above

Platinum: $25,000 to $49,999

Gold: $10,000 to $24,999

Silver: $1000 to $9,999

Bronze: $0 to $999

The names of the donors are recognized with the corresponding levels on the ISSMGE

web site under the page dedicated to the ISSMGE Foundation

(http://www.issmge.org/web/page.aspx?refid=563), in the ISSMGE Bulletin on the page

dedicated to the ISSMGE Foundation (http://www.issmge.org/web/page.aspx?refid=430).

They will also be recognised at future International Conferences on Soil Mechanics and

Geotechnical Engineering. To date, a total of US$ 121,401 has been contributed by 14

organizations and individuals. The names of the Donors are given below.

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LIST OF DONORS TO ISSMGE FOUNDATION

(As of December 2011)

Individuals

Mrs & Professor J-L. Briaud (Platinum)

Professor J. Schmertmann (Silver)

Professor I. Towhata (Silver)

Professor M. Tumay (Bronze)

Professor A. Puppala (Bronze)

Organizations

ISSMGE (Diamond)

ASCE-Geo-Institute (Gold)

Japanese Geotechnical Society (Gold)

International IGM-Dr. Marc Ballouz (Gold)

Korean Geotechnical Society (Silver)

California Geotechnical Engineers Association (Silver)

Yonsei University (Silver)

Deep Foundations Institute (Silver)

Nagadi Consultants (Bronze)

3. PROCEDURE FOR AWARDING GRANTS

The following procedure has been developed to assess applications for ISSMGE

Foundation grants:

a. Applications can be submitted twice yearly (by January 1st and July 1

st), on a

standard form, to the Secretary General of ISSMGE;

b. These applications are then sent to the Chair of the ISSMGE Membership,

Practitioner, and Academicians Committee (MPAC). Currently this is Dr.

Harry Poulos, Australia.

c. The Chair, in conjunction with the President of ISSMGE, will assess the

applications on the basis of the following criteria:

1. Demonstration of need;

2. Quality of the activity;

3. Cost-sharing;

4. Potential impact of the activity on the career progress of the

individual and of his or her Member Society.

d. Decisions are made and communicated by February 1st and August 1

st;

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e. After the successful applicant has completed his/her nominated activity, they

provide a written report to the Chair of MPAC stating the benefits that they

and their Society have gained from the award of the grant. This report will be

published in the ISSMGE Bulletin.

4. AWARDS TO DATE

To date, a total of 7 grants have been awarded, as set out below:

Imen Said ep Graiet Tunisia $233.29

VI International Congress on

Environmental Geotechnics,

New Delhi, India November

2010

Vol 4. Issue 4,

Dec. 2010, p12

JL Ayala Torres Chile $165.11 V International Conference on

Earthquake Geotechnical

Engineering, Santiago de Chile,

Chile January 2011

Vol 5. Issue 1,

Feb. 2011, p. 28,

29, &30

PA Gacitua Carcamo Chile $165.11

MA Jara Ortiz Chile $165.11

Dr Nadeej Hansaraj

Priyankara

Sri

Lanka $446.94

XIV Asian Regional Conference,

Hong Kong, May 2011

Vol. 5, Issue 3,

June 2011, p. 17

GJ Quevedo Sotolongo Cuba $570.89 XIV Panamerican Conference

/Council Meeting, Toronto,

Canada, October 2011

(Ready for

publication) Y Gonzalez

Haramboure Cuba $570.89

The reports of the first five awardees have appeared in issues of the ISSMGE Bulletin,

starting with Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2010. The latter two reports will appear in an

upcoming issue of the Bulletin. They are also available from the ISSMGE website at:

http://www.issmge.org/web/page.aspx?refid=739.

Celebration of the 75th ISSMGE

anniversary (November 8th, New

Delhi during 6ICEG)

Presentation of the Future of ISSMGE

by Dr Imen SAID

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5. IMPACT OF ISSMGE FOUNDATION

While it is still early days, it seems clear that the financial assistance provided by the

ISSMGE Foundation has already started to have a very positive impact on the individuals

receiving the grants and also on their Member Societies. In particular, the last two awards

have the potential to influence the formation of a new Member Society in Cuba. Thus, the

ISSMGE Foundation is already fulfilling its objectives.

2011 Pan Am CGS Geotechnical

Conference in Toronto, Canada where

the ISSMGE Council Meeting and the

Pan-American Committee Meetings

were important events for member

societies, like Cuba, to exchange news &

information, & enabling planning for

future projects.

Working lunch at the 2011 Pan Am CGS Geotechnical Conference, 3rd October 2011 –

Delegates from Cuba having the opportunity to work with other delegates from Argentina

and Venezuela.

5icege, Santiago of Chile, 2011.

Mauricio Jara Ortiz, PA Gacitua Carcamo, and JL

Ayala Torres.

Civil Engineers‐ Master's students in Geotechnical

Engineering.

Catholic University of Concepción.

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Appendix

Pages 6-7

6th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics (6ICEG)

New Delhi, November 2010

Report by Imen Said

6ICEG Report - Imen Said page 7

Pages 8-11

5th International Conference on Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (5-ICEGE)

Santiago de Chile, January 2011

Reports by Juan Ayala, Pablo Gacitua and Mauricio Jara

5ICEGE Report - Juan Ayala page 9

5ICEGE Report - Gacitua Carcamo page 10

5ICEGE Report - Jara Ortiz page 11

Pages 12-13

14th Asian Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (14th

ARC 2011)

Hong Kong, May 2011

Report by Dr NH Priyankara

14th ARC Report - Priyankara page 13

Pages 14-20

14th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

Toronto, Canada, October 2011

14th Pan-Am 2011 Report - Quevedo Sotolongo page 15

14th Pan-Am 2011 Report - Gonzalez Haramboure page 19

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Dr. Imen Said (imen_said@yahoo.fr) EBM of ISSMGE Bulletin

During the Sixth International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics which was held in New Delhi from 8th to 12th November 2010, ISSMGE celebrated its 75th anniversary. During the ceremony, Professor Pedro Seco e Pinto opened the ceremony, Professor Jean Louis Briaud, our president, talked about the present of ISSMGE, Professor Kenji Ishihara talked about the past of ISSMGE and a young member, Dr Imen Said from Tunisia (North Africa) talked about the future of ISSMGE. Dr Imen SAID is a member of SYMPG, the North Africa coordinator of ISSMGE bulletin and an active member of Tunisian Society for Soil mechanics. It is a nice opportunity given to a young member to participate to such a great event. Dr Imen SAID is the first young member who obtained a grant from ISSMGE foundation. The Tunisian Society for Soil Mechanics (ATMS) has also provided financial support to the young member to attend such an important ceremony. ISSMGE takes its origins at the 1936 International Conference held in Cambridge-Massachusetts. Comparing 2010 with 1935 would indicate how far the ISSMGE has progressed! eg countries actively involved, member numbers, communication tools, knowledge base and how shared. In another 75 years, the ISSMGE will no doubt be very different from what it is now: More members, countries actively involved etc... What we have now provides a solid foundation for the future. The main future objective of ISSMGE is to become a leader and a major actor in the Geotechnical world environment. The ISSMGE future strategy is based on many axis such as be an active and effective society in geotechnical areas, promote the Young members role and activity in the society, work strongly with developing countries to improve and reinforce their contribution in the Geotechnical Research and industrial fields… The existence of SYMPG as an index of youth participation in the management of the student and young members’ affairs is a very good news for the future of ISSMGE. SYMPG which is the Student and Young Members Presidential Group is composed of 18 young members (< 35 years old) coming from the six main regions in the world (Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America and South America). The aim of this group is to contribute, to promote and to the progress of our international society. The idea behind the creation of such a group is to give a chance to students and young members to invoice their opinion and innovative ideas to improve the future of ISSMGE and make it more attractive. During the ceremony, the young member talked about the future of ISSMGE regarding some particular axis such as: membership and extension of ISSMGE, communication, Technical committees, conferences and forums, geotechnical research and engineering work and developing countries. MEMBERSHIP AND EXTENSION OF ISSMGE In the future, geotechnical engineering knowledge will be developed and promoted in all countries by building ISSMGE branches in social networks; number of members, number of countries, and number of societies will increase. Besides, Student and younger member membership in ISSMGE will grow, allow better communication between members, highlight opportunities and will encourage learning and technical knowledge sharing. Thus, young members knowledge (future of ISSMGE) will be developed. Encouragement of young members will also ensure growth of the ISSMGE in the midterm future. COMMUNICATION Communication will be improved between ISSMGE members especially in countries not well represented in our society. Besides, geotechnical specialists all over the word will receive correspondence and information from the ISSMGE (such as the ISSMGE Bulletin, emails from the President etc), and become active ISSMGE members. Moreover, mailing lists of all members/Young members will be easily used and multimedia communication methods will be developed along (blog, google group, facebook, Twitter..). In the same context, ISSMGE Website will be improved; that means that it will be easy to use, including complete contents and activity and will be properly described. It will also include RSS news subscription, members’ blogs and forums. Thus, ISSMGE members will be able to access to geotechnical knowledge resources of successful universities to improve the level of the global geotechnical knowledge, and declare their demands directly to the society as well as the society can. Furthermore, it is hoped in the next future that all young members around the world find same facilities to send their message (especial investigation results, geotechnical pictures, educational videos) to the other members simply and inquire their geotechnical questions easily via geotechnical forum. TECHNICAL COMMITTEES Technical committees will continue to involve and be created or updated to reflect the changing nature and new challenges that will be faced by geotechnical engineers by including specific guidelines and requirements. Besides, technical committees action items will be developed and manage technical conferences more than before. They also will be better represented in the ISSMGE bulletin, regional events or board meeting. WORKSHOPS AND FORUMS Forums will launch appropriate spaces in ISSMGE website or network societies about geotechnical questions. Besides, workshops on geotechnical teaching methodology will be created. Moreover, ISSMGE will increase collaboration with industry and institutes of higher learning (e.g. organize seminars, lectures, speaker program, internships, co-ops, R&D projects, organizational member committee). Regarding activities of young members, regional YGECs will be more promoted.

ISSMGE Bulletin: Volume 4 , Issue 4 Page 12

Future of ISSMGE : Celebration of the 75th ISSMGE Anniversary

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GEOTECHNICAL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING WORK First, database of current and potential research projects and publications will be developed in the future as well as accreditation body to certify geotechnical engineers worldwide. Database of geotechnical soil profiles across the globe will also be developed. Second, motivation mechanisms (e.g. publishing the best communication seminars, prizes for best researchers, best presentations) will be created. Then, technical visits to great geotechnical projects will be organized. Besides, focus on fundamentals will be increased with understanding of real-world project progression. ISSMGE AND DEVELOPPING COUNTRIES ISSMGE will be promoted in all developing countries and less active national societies especially in African region and middle east countries. Conferences will be encouraged (sponsoring) in developing countries as well as countries that cannot participate in ISSMGE activities; they will be identified and then helped. In this way, financial support for students to attend conferences/events will be provided. Finally, geotechnical research works will be supported in developing countries as well as geotechnical engineering knowledge by building ISSMGE branches in social networks. To fulfill all this work, all regions and members societies have to work together for a better future of ISSMGE.

Celebration of the 75th ISSMGE anniversary (November 8th, New Delhi during 6ICEG) From left to right (Prof Jean Louis BRIAUD, Prof Kenji ISHIHARA, Dr Imen SAID)

Celebration of the 75th ISSMGE anniversary (November 8th, New Delhi during 6ICEG) From left to right (Prof Pedro SECO E PINTO, Prof M.R. MADHAV)

Celebration of the 75th ISSMGE anniversary (November 8th, New Delhi during 6ICEG) Presentation of the Future of ISSMGE by Dr Imen SAID

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First of all I would like to thank the ISSMGE Foundation for this great opportunity and initiative in helping those who cannot afford the registration fee to attend these types of events, the ISSMGE President Professor Jean-Louis Briaud, whom I had the chance to meet a day before the 5ICEGE, and Professor Harry Poulos, Chair of the ISSMGE Membership, Practitioners, and Academicians Committee (MPAC) for approving my application. For me, as a civil engineering student in the last years of an undergraduate degree, I had only the chance to go to nationals students congresses, so the opportunity to attend a conference with the magnitude of the 5ICEGE was something out of this world, because I could know a new world within the engineering that corresponds to the research area. The opportunity to meet geotechnical engineers, master degree students, geotechnical engineers with master's degrees, doctoral students, doctors in the area, people who pursue their studies of the post-doctoral degree, and faculty reviewers of those researches was exceptional because I meet geotechnical engineers “in different stages", and the opportunity to know them in a instance of a conference which is more relaxed because everyone was disposed to talk with anybody, which is different of a classroom, instance where you go to learn something and no to socialize. The fact that I talked with them in that opportunity, helped me to know more about the geotechnical engineering work and also let me approach to the research area, an activity that previously I only imagined for my teachers, and now I see it as an attainable goal, that is why I have decided to start a masters degree program in geotechnical engineering in my university this year. After meeting the researchers, within which I really liked those that used FEM, I also met a huge amount of different job opportunities that I didn’t know and I really like them. I think having taken full advantage of this conference because I really learned a lot about geotechnical engineering and where are going the studies. I really enjoy the presentations, because it’s very different to read a paper then have the author explaining you his work, and that’s an excellent opportunity from my point of view. I guess the only thing I’m sorry about the conference is that wasn’t possible to attend the three workshops, I particularly went to the seismic design and stability analysis of tailings disposals which I found very interesting, but I wish I could go to the three of them. I also really like the closure ceremony when this group of geotechnical engineers with many years of experience talk about the conference in general, and how their experience let them see things that for me are more hard to see, like the one I remember in particular about taking care about center the investigation almost only in FEM when we actually work with the reality, we use this mathematical methods to approximate the real behavior of our soils, but we have to be careful about other behaviors that we assume are constant. There are many more things that I remember from the conference but I’m not going to boring you with all the details that I remember from each one, but I just like to finish telling you that for me was a really great opportunity to grow has an engineer and as a professional. It’s amazing to know that societies like the ISSMGE that through its Foundation supports people like me that cannot afford things like this conference and help has directly with money in a world where almost only love and smiles are still free, Thank you. Juan Ayala Civil Engineering Student Catholic University of Concepción

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5th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering

10-13 January 2011, Santiago, Chile

Report by Pablo Gacitúa Cárcamo, UCSC student, Concepción, Chile

The conference was every bit as interesting as I could have imagined. Not only the

technical aspects of it where great, but it also allowed me to interact with fellow students,

professors and scientists from all around the world. It was really interesting, and exciting if you

will, to attend lectures by leading minds in the field of geotechnics such as Ricardo Dobry,

Steven Kramer or Pedro Seco just to name a few.

Although I must admit that, since I am an undergraduate student, some of the lectures

where out of my reach, most of them where very interesting and along with the workshops, state

of the art lectures and theme lectures, allowed me to form a clear idea of where things are going

in Geotechnical Engineering. Idea that broadens my perspective on every Geotechnical related

class I take hereon.

Another aspect that I think was very beneficial to me was that I got to know first hand this

whole academic world that until now to me was restricted to my faculty teachers. A world that I

think is very interesting and that I now see as a possible career choice.

It also was a good way to make contacts with leading companies for a possible

internship (which is mandatory in my university in order to get my degree) and, as I already

mentioned, to meet fellow students from all over the world which can become fruitful contacts

for any kind of investigation program at my university.

Coming back to classes in March, me and other few classmates who also attended the

conference, will be able, and willing, to share our experience and things learned with our fellow

students and teachers.

Finally, I have nothing left to say but to thank Professor Harry Poulos, Paloma Peers and

the ISSMGE Foundation once again for granting me the Registration fee and allowing me to

attend the 5ICEGE.

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Mauricio Jara.  Civil Engineer ‐ Master's student in Geotechnical Engineering. Catholic University of Concepción. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

___________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Report 

5icege, Santiago of Chile, 2011. 

 

The conference was an excellent experience; the organization was first class as well as exhibitions. 

Is  very  gratifying to have participated in an event of such high quality, although it is only public status; and is more satisfactory to see that Chile has a lot to give to the Geotechnical  Engineering  in  the  area  of  research,  clear  example  are  the contributions of teachers  Verdugo, Ortigoza,  Ledezma,  Villalobos, etc. 

It goes without saying that not only Chile has something to contribute to the global geotechnical,  all  countries  have  the  obligation  to  share  information  and  research projects  relevant  to  improving  the  safety  and  geotechnical  models.  Sharing information is vital in this area of engineering, so on the basis of this conference to take  such  great  significance,  is  a  key  moment  to  learn more  professionals,  share knowledge, information, career options and consult with all this, to grow as a person and especially as a professional. 

Topics such as liquefaction, tailings dams, design, seismic performance, etc.. Some of the  exposures  observed  in  this  conference,  no  doubt  that  soil  liquefaction  is  too important  an  issue  for  a  country with  Chile's  seismic  activity, which  is why most witnessed sessions are related to the dynamics of soils, foundations and interaction soil‐structure.  Another  highlight  is  the  presentation  of  F.  Villalobos,  M.  Poblete,  teachers  at  the master's  degree  in  geotechnical  engineering  from  the  Catholic  University  of Concepción, besides the presentation of M. Navarrete civil engineer belonging to the Catholic University of Concepción. 

 

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Mauricio Jara.  Civil Engineer ‐ Master's student in Geotechnical Engineering. Catholic University of Concepción. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

___________________________________________________________________________________________ 

To conclude  this brief  report,  I  thank deeply  I  could attend  this  conference,  thank Jean‐Louis  Briaud  (President  of  the  International  Society  of  Soil  Mechanics  and Geotechnical  Engineering  ISSMGE),  Sr.  Harry  Poulos,  Ramon  Verdugo  (SOCHIGE president), Paloma Peers to accommodate my request for registration.  

 

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ISSMGE FOUNDATION REPORT ON CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Your Name: Dr. N.H. Priyankara

Your Organization: University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka

Date of report: 06/06/2011

Conference Title: The 14th Asian Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

Location of Conference: The Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

Dates of Conference: 23rd to 27th May 2011

What you learned:

This was a very good opportunity for me to make good relationships with well recognize senior professionals in the field of Geotechnical Engineering all over the world. In addition, I was able to learned current developments in the field of geotechnical engineering, especially in the developed countries. I was able to study the landslide risk management methods in Hong Kong and it was really interesting as there are a lot landslides occur in Sri Lanka every year. People you met:

1. Prof. Charles W.W. Ng - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 2. Prof. Nagaratnam Sivakugan - James Cook University, Australia 3. Prof. M. R. Madhav – JNT University, India 4. Prof. K.S. Rao – President, Indian Geotechnical Society 5. Prof. Dennes T. Bergado – AIT, Thailand 6. Prof. Motoki Kazama – Tohoku University, Japan 7. Prof. Ryosuke Uzuoka – University of Tokushima, Japan 8. Mr. Anandasiri Kalansuriya – CEDD, Hong Kong 9. Dr. Jay Ameratunga – Coffey Geotechnics, Australia and many more professionals in the field of Geotechnical Engineering all over the world.

Main features of conference: As theme of the conference is “Challenges and Solutions in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering”, most of the key note lectures are relevant to the present problems and challenges in the field of geotechnical engineering. This conference covers the topics related to slope stabilization, foundation engineering, underground construction and tunnelling, rock engineering, geoenvironmental engineering, earthquake engineering and many more topics. Your comments on the conference: Conference was well organized and I didn’t face any difficulties during my short stay in Hong Kong.

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Photographs from Conference:

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ISSMGE FOUNDATION

REPORT ON CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Your Name: Gilberto Quevedo Sotolongo

Your Organization: Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de las Villas. Cuba. CTNMSIG member.

Date of report: October 26th, 2011

Conference Title: XIV Panamerican Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

Location of Conference: Toronto. Canada.

Dates of Conference: October 1st to 6th, 2011.

What you learned: Given my research interests, I focused on sessions dealing with Deep Foundations, Shallow Foundations, Probability and Reliability-Based Design and the Behavior of Unsaturated Soils. I was able to attend almost all the presentations of these sessions. Besides learning about recent research being carried out by our American colleagues, I also made useful contacts which will allow us to exchange information and plan joint research in the future. Specifically, we identified possible collaboration with colleagues from UNAM in Mexico, the University of Brasilia in Brazil and the University of Ottawa in Canada among others. Both the information received directly from the presentations as well as the material that is held in the Conference CD are already being used by our Master and Doctorate students as well as in our research. There is no doubt that to be able to attend the Conference was a great opportunity and I am grateful for the support given by the ISSMGE. People you met: I met many colleagues in Toronto, some of whom I had met before: Dr. Gabriel Auvinet from UNAM, Dr. Renato Paints from the University of Brasilia, Dr. Jorge Alva from UNI in Peru, Eng. Roberto Terzariol from the University of Cordoba in Argentina, Dr. Eulalio Juárez Badillo from the UNAM in Mexico, to name a few. Likewise, I met new colleagues: Dr. Roberto Quental from the Federal University of Pernambuco in Brazil, Dr. Raúl Vicente Orozco from Peru, Dr. Julio Ángel Infante from the University of Ottawa in Canada and Dr. Rodrigo Salgado from the University of Purdue in United States. I also made contact with several colleagues from the firms taking part in the Trade Exhibition fair at Conference.

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Main features of conference: In addition to the technical sessions the social activities included in the conference program were excellent: they introduced conference participants to different aspects of Canada, while also encouraging friendly exchange between the attendees. I would like to congratulate the Conference Organizing Committee: I have been personally involved in the organization of several international events and am aware of the possible difficulties, so I much appreciate the great effort in producing such an excellent conference. Your comments on the conference: I was also able to attend the ISSMGE Council Meeting and the Pan-American Committee Meeting, two excellent opportunities for receiving updated information about the ISSMGE and its projects for the coming years, as well as on the work of the Pan-American Societies. These were excellent complements to the Conference and a good opportunity for us to represent our country. I think that the benefits of having attended this Conference are not restricted to the time actually spent in Toronto, but more importantly will be those that to be felt in the future, from the relationships formed with colleagues during the Conference, and the plentiful and valuable information held in the Conference CD. Please attach short report (maximum 400 words) suitable for publication in the ISSMGE Bulletin: The Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering was an excellent experience. From the original call for papers, the launch of the website, the paper selection process and referee system to the actual conference itself, all were organized with meticulous attention to detail. As far as the technical content is concerned, the presentations were organized according to themes, and within each session the four presentations were even more closely linked, enabling meaningful discussion, and allowing better networking opportunities between researchers with similar interests. I should also highlight the keynote lectures: these were on cutting edge topics delivered by world class experts The ISSMGE Council Meeting and the Pan-American Committee Meeting were also held at the time of the Conference. These are two important events for member societies to exchange news and information, and enabling planning for future projects. The conference was very well complemented by a selection of social activities which encouraged interaction between participating colleagues in a less academic environment.

Photographs from Conference: Insert here or attach to email

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ISSMGE FOUNDATION REPORT ON CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Your Name: MSc. Ing. Yoermes González Haramboure

Your Organization: Cuban Technical Committee for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (CTNMSIG).

Date of report: 26/10/2011

Conference Title: 14 Pan-American Conference for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

Location of Conference: Sheraton Centre Hotel, Toronto, Canada.

Dates of Conference: 2-6 Oct 2011

What you learned: This event was a good opportunity for me to meet well-known senior professionals in the fields of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, as well as managers of recognized companies (WorleyParsons Canada, Bentley, GeoSolv, Geo-Slope, Plaxis, etc). I was able to participate in the Technical Sessions on Embankments and Dikes (ED), Shallow Foundations (SF) and Unsaturated Soils Behaviour (US), as well as learn more about recent research, case studies, and new construction projects. I took part in the ISSMGE Council Meeting and the Pan-American Societies Chairmen’s Meeting, representing the Cuban member society. People you met: 1. Dr. Roberto Terzariol – Vice-President of the ISSMGE for South-America. 2. Prof. Roberto Quental Coutinho, MSc. PhD, Pos-PhD. - Geotechnical Group, Civil

Engineering Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brasil. 3. Dr. Raúl Vicente Orozco Santoyo – Geotechnical Specialist, Mexico. 4. Prof. Héctor Moreno – UNAM, Mexico. 5. Prof. Edgar Méndez S., MSc. - Geoinformatic Labs., UNAM, Mexico. 6. Prof. Joaquin Quiroga – Geotechnical Department Manager, WorleyParsons Canada. 7. Prof. Mónica F. Bedoya Martínez, MSc. - National University of Colombia. 8. Prof. Cesar Hidalgo - National University of Colombia. 9. Prof. Mario Camilo Torres Suárez - National University of Colombia. 10. Andrea Elliott – Geotechnical Product Sales Specialist, Canada. 11. P. Eng. Mark Tigchelaar – GEOSOLV, Canada. 12. Sra. Paloma Peers - Administrative Officer, ISSMGE. Main features of conference: The Conference included the main topics related to embankments and dikes, shallow and deep foundations, field and laboratory testing, rock engineering, geoenvironmental issues and earthquakes, and many more topics. It was also an opportunity to attend other important activities for the ISSMGE like the Council Meeting, the Pan-American Committee Meeting, and the 5th Teaching and Learning of Soil Mechanic and Geotechnical Engineering.

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Your comments on the conference: I considered all presentations in the Technical Sessions to be excellent, particularly those in the session on Embankments and Dikes (ED). The Event was well organized and I would like to thank the ISSMGE Foundation and the Organizing Committee for their great efforts in helping the Cuban Delegation. Please attach short report (maximum 400 words) suitable for publication in the ISSMGE Bulletin: 14 Pan-Am CGS - Cuban Delegation Report : MSc. Ing. Yoermes González Haramboure; Secretary of the CTNMSIG from Cuba. Dr. Ing. Gilberto Quevedo Sotolongo; Member of the CTNMSIG from Cuba. October 2, 2011: The Cuban delegates attended the ISSMGE Council Meeting. That day, the South and North American delegates held a working lunch, and discussed the creation of the Latin-American Journal for Geotechnics in Spanish, the venue of the next Pan-American Committee Meeting, and the venue of the next Pan-American Conference. At the meeting, the Cuban delegates reported on the recent journals that the ISSMGE send to Cuba, and on upcoming events of the National Committee in Cuba. October 3, 2011: The Cuban delegates attend the Plenary and Technical Sessions ED1, ED2, ED3, US1, US2 and US3. That day, the Cuban delegates had a working lunch with delegates from Argentina and Venezuela, at which they discussed the curricula of Geotechnical disciplines at their respective Universities. October 4, 2011: The Cuban delegates attended Plenary and Technical Sessions ED4, HY1, DF1, DF2, DF3 and SF1. In the afternoon, the Cuban delegates took part in the Pan-American Societies Committee Meeting at which they discussed the amendments to the agreement for the Pan-American Conferences. At this Meeting, the members of the Pan-American Societies approved Buenos Aires as the venue for the next Pan-American Conference in October 2015. October 5, 2011: The Cuban delegates attended Plenary and Technical Sessions DF4, DF5 and DF6, and the Special Session of Teaching and Learning of Geotechnical Engineering in the American Continent. Finally, the Cuban delegates attended the Closing Ceremony.

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Photographs from Conference: Working lunch, 2nd October 2011

Working lunch, 3rd October 2011 – Delegates from Cuba, Argentina and Venezuela

Prof. Morgenstern – ISSMGE 75th Anniversary Luncheon

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