Canadian professor to speak at international conference in Germany
The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) announced in a Feb. 6 press release its selection of Richard J. Bathurst to deliver the 2014 Giroud Lecture-one of the society’s highest distinctions.
Since its first awarding in 1998, the Giroud Lecture has recognized achievements and influences in the field of geosynthetics. The lecture is delivered every four years at the opening of the International Conference on Geosynthetics (ICG) organized by the IGS.
The release noted that Prof. Bathurst, Ph.D., P.Eng., FEIC, FCAE, is only the fifth speaker to receive this honor and that he will present the lecture at the opening of the 10th ICG in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 21-25, 2014.
The release noted that Prof. Bathurst, Ph.D., P.Eng., FEIC, FCAE, is only the fifth speaker to receive this honor and that he will present the lecture at the opening of the 10th ICG in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 21-25, 2014.
“Dr. Bathurst’s contributions to the advancement of geosynthetics have been superb, and in multiple segments of our discipline,” said Jorge Zornberg, IGS president. “They include far-reaching technical contributions for fundamental understanding of geosynthetics, key practical contributions to the engineering community at large, and unmatched contributions to the IGS.”
Bathurst is professor of civil engineering at the Royal Military College of Canada, where he has taught since 1980. He holds a cross-appointment with the Civil Engineering Department at Queen’s University and is an adjunct professor of civil engineering at the University of Waterloo and at Edith Cowan University in Australia. He has authored or co-authored hundreds of papers in refereed journals, conference proceedings, and research monographs, according to the press release.
The Giroud Lecture is named for J.P. Giroud, who coined the terms “geotextile” and “geomembrane” in 1977. He has developed many of the design methods and originated many of the applications used in geosynthetic engineering, including many of those pertaining to landfills, liquid impoundments, and dams. Giroud holds the status of Honorary Member of the International Geosynthetics Society, has been named a “Hero” of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Geo-Institute, has delivered major international geotechnical lectures including the Mercer and Terzaghi lectures, and has been recognized by the National Order of the Legion of Honour in France. He remains active in the field today.