The WA Chapter congratulates the recipients of the 2019 AGS Awards at WA universities. These awards are presented annually to two engineering students from different State universities who produce the best combination of thesis and seminar on a geotechnical topic. This year’s 2019 AGS Awards were presented to Samantha McClurg from Curtin University and Marco Trimboli from the UWA.
Samantha’s final year thesis, titled “Influence of Using Seawater in MICP on the Erodibility of Bio-Cemented Slope Profiles”, investigated using MICP (microbiologically-induced calcium carbonate precipitation) as a method of coastal erosion mitigation. Marco conducted a research project on the “Effects of Soil-Structure Interaction on the Differential Settlements of Multi-Storey Structures”. As part of this project, he helped develop a technique for predicting the differential settlement of a structure over staged construction. Following her studies, Samantha commenced a Graduate Engineer position with Main Roads WA where she is currently exercising her interest in geotechnical and pavement engineering while working on the new Manning Road Southbound On-Ramp project. Marco is currently working as a Graduate Structural Engineer at Worley and hopes to combine his interests in both structural and geotechnical engineering in his future work. Congratulations to these award recipients!
114th IAEG Connector
Posted:
Richard Wolters Prize nominations extended and many volcanoes and landslides — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter is available online.
Call for nominations — AGS Practitioner Award and D.H. Trollope Medal
This biennial award recognises contributions of the highest order over an extended period with a commitment to the geotechnical profession in Australia and the Australian Geomechanics Society.
Nominations
Nominations should be made by at least three persons (not necessarily members) to the Secretary of the National Committee of the Society following a call for submissions in Australian Geomechanics. Nominations must be accompanied by a comprehensive supporting document.
The Trollope Medal is awarded to the author of an outstanding paper on either theoretical or applied geomechanics. The work reported in the paper must have been undertaken in Australia by an author under 35 years of age and can have been published anywhere in the world in the previous four years. The nominated author must have been primarily responsible for the work and would normally be the principal author of the paper.
Nominations
The nomination can be made by any member of the Society. The nomination requires the approval of the author and should be accompanied by two copies of the paper. The nomination is to be accompanied by an electronic (disk or USB) copy of the Doctoral thesis, which will be returned following the selection process.
The nominations should be forwarded to the Secretary of the National Committee following a call for submissions in Australian Geomechanics Journal. Nominations will be called every two years, normally in the alternate year to the EH Davis Memorial Lecture.
Two landslides block rivers and one traps coal miner — The most recent edition of the IAEG Connector newsletter is available online.
Soil & Rock Logging Courses Postponed
Posted:
Health and safety concerns due to COVI-19, along with logistical issues, have meant that the Soil & Rock logging courses have been postponed. It is unlikely that these courses will be held in 2020.
112th IAEG Connector
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New Bulletin Released and Incredible Geohazard Events — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter is available online.
Dr Baden Clegg Award
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On Tuesday 14th of July 2020, the Western Australian Chapter held a webinar for their annual Dr Baden Clegg Award. This annual event gives a platform for our younger (under 35) geo-professionals to present their work, gain feedback from experienced colleagues and become involved in AGS activities. There were three presentations on a wide range of topics and delivered to a number of AGS members and guests.
Michael Kostadinovski’s (BHP) presentation on “Rapid and robust slope failure appraisal using aerial photogrammetry and 3D slope stability models” was announced as the overall winner and will receive a $1,000 prize along with a miniature “Clegg Hammer” trophy. Exceptional presentations were also delivered by the other two finalists: Colin McGovern (Fugro) on “The MH370 Airplane Search – Challenges and Data Examples of a Deep-Water Geophysical Seabed Survey”, and Shaun Yap (GHD) on “East Kimberley Regional Airport – Stabilisation Trials and Real Time Monitoring of Gilgai Holes in the Runway Strip”. Each of the runners up will receive a $250 prize.
Special thanks to Jim Crandell, for his presentation of Dr Clegg’s achievements, and Stephanie Clegg, Dr Clegg’s eldest daughter, for presenting the award to Michael Kostadinovski.
111th IAEG Connector
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Monsoons bring landslides and Newsletter 2 now available — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter is available online.
110th IAEG Connector
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New Dates for Euroengeo2020 and Impact Factor to 3.04! — The latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter is available online.
July ISSMGE Circular
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The latest ISSMGE newsletter, the July ISSMGE Circular, is available online.
109th IAEG Connector
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3rd EUROENGEO2020 Conference in Athens, Greece Postponed until 2021 — the latest newsletter of the IAEG is available online.
108th IAEG Connector
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New Bulletin Titles and Link to first YEG Webinar — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter is available online.
Honorary Life Members
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Dear Members,
I am delighted to be sending you this email to announce the award of honorary life membership of the AGS to 15 exceptional geotechnical professionals. These individuals have each played a significant part in supporting the geotechnical profession in Australia. Their contributions and accomplishments are presented in the June issue of the Australian Geomechanics Journal, so look out for this in your mailbox in the next few weeks. Also presented in the June AG Journal is an explanation of the honorary life membership criteria and process.
The Inaugural AGS Honorary Life Members are:
Professor Harry Poulos
Emeritus Professor John Carter
Max Ervin
Andrew Leventhal
Professor Ted Brown
Professor Mark Jaksa
Professor Mark Randolph
Dr Peter Mitchell
Dr Bill Bamford
Dr Philip Pells
Patrick MacGregor
Professor Ian Johnston
Adjunct Associate Professor Garry Mostyn
Dr Fred Baynes
Dr Chris Haberfield
I offer my warmest congratulations to the individuals listed above and thank them for their extraordinary contributions to Australian Geotechnics. The introduction of honorary life membership in this, the 50th anniversary year of the AGS, is fitting, as we reflect on the remarkable achievements of the AGS over this time and the advancements made in geotechnics in Australia. The Inaugural Honorary Life Members will be recognised in person at 50th anniversary celebrations to be held by the AGS chapters in the coming months.
It is the intention of the AGS to continue to honour valued contributors in this way over the coming years.
Best regards
Nina Levy National Chair of Australian Geomechanics Society
Incredible Quick Clay Landslide in Alta, Norway
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The latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter, is available online.
Dam Failure in Michigan, USA — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector Newsletter is available online.
Members Fees 2020
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The last few months have seen a massive disruption to our lives, due to direct and indirect effects of Covid-19. I hope that you have adjusted OK to working (and schooling) from home and other changes to your routine.
Whilst it is clear that while temporary closure of many industries may be starting to ease, the Australian economy will take time to recover. The AGS Executive appreciates that many AGS members may be receiving a reduced household income and that employers may be looking to take cost saving measures during this period. With this in mind, we have made the decision to offer our full individual membership a discount of approximately 25% on the annual AGS membership fees for the 2020-2021 financial year. The revised fees will be automatically applied and presented on your membership renewal notice, which will be distributed to you shortly from Engineers Australia. It is hoped that this reduction will contribute in a small way to ease any effect that the current disruptions are having on our valued members.
We are optimistic that the AGS will be in a position to re-commence in-person events in the near future, but in the meantime, our calendar of online (webinar style) events is available on the AGS website. There are several technical presentations scheduled for the next couple of months, with links provided on the specific event webpages for registration. These events are typically organised by AGS local chapters but are open for anyone who is interested to attend online (with a small number of exceptions that will be clearly noted).
Thank you for your continued support of the AGS. I look forward to seeing you in-person and continue to commemorate our 50th anniversary when conditions allow.
Best regards
Nina Levy (AGS National Chair)
Bright Spark Lecture Award
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To promote young members of the ISSMGE to play a major role in various international and regional conferences, the President of ISSMGE, Professor Charles Ng, created the Bright Spark Award for promising young geotechnical engineers/academics to deliver keynote and invited lectures at these conferences.
The Young Member Presidential Group (YMPG) and the ISSMGE wish to invite all ISSMGE member societies to nominate their most promising young geotechnical engineers as candidates to speak at a keynote session at the 20th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in Sydney, Australia in September 2021. Two young engineers will be chosen. They will have the opportunity to present their work as the recipient of the ISSMGE Bright Spark Lecture Award.
The awardees will be invited to present a 30 minute keynote lecture at the conference and write an associated paper, which will be included in the conference proceedings. The Bright Spark Award will be presented to young geotechnical engineers who produce mature research containing major contributions to the intellectual community.
The Award criteria are as follows:
Age 36 or under on the last day of the conference (17 September 2021) Deadline of 1 June 2020 for nominations Limit of 3 nominees per member society Both English and French papers and lectures are welcome.
If you are interested in applying, please contact your ISSMGE Member Society. If you are not able to get in touch with your Member Society, please email: [email protected].
ISSMGE Circular — May 2020
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The May issue of the ISSMGE Circular, with details of seven full courses available through the ISSMGE “Virtual University” is now available online.
102nd IAEG Connector Newsletter
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Special Online IAEG Symposium on Asbestos, May 13-14, 2020 — The 102nd IAEG Connector Newsletter is available online.
