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Proceedings of the 18
th
International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris 2013
Appendix 15: ISSMGE International Seminars
P. Sêco e Pinto
ISSMGE Immediate Past President
The Touring Lectures Program was planned by ISSMGE to
disseminate the current state-of-the art/practice amongst
geotechnical engineers involved in the design and practice in
developing countries.
ISSMGE International Seminars (Touring Lectures) have
the following purposes:
To address a topic selected by the Host Society;
•
To address the interests of practitioner engineers;
•
To attract young geotechnical engineers;
•
To incorporate a good mix of routine and modern soil
mechanics and to cover case histories;
•
To allocate after each lecture a period for discussions, in
order to stimulate questions and to share experiences
from the participants;
•
To have a strong local support;
•
To have the support of the Industry;
•
2 days of lectures delivered by 4 international experts
appointed by the Co-ordinator and 2 lecturers appointed
by the Host Society;
•
In the 3rd day a technical visit (optional)
All the written versions of the lectures should be sent to the
Host Society with 2 months in advance in order to be prepared a
Seminar Volume/CD-Rom.
The first Touring Lecture took place in Lagos, 2001 and the
second one in St. Petersburg, in 2004.
During the period (2005-2009) 21 Touring Lectures –
International Seminars were organized namely in Chile, in
Paraguay, in Tunisia, in Vietnam, in Albania, in Croatia, in
Costa Rica, in El Salvador, in Indonesia, in China, in Sri
Lanka, in Nigeria, in Ecuador, in Pakistan, in Makedonia, in
Cambodia, in Laos, in Myanmair, in Hungary, in Ghana and in
Mozambique.
During the period (2009-2013) 17 Touring Lectures –
International Seminars were organized namely in:
•
In 2010 in Dominican Republic, Philippines (Manila),
South Africa (Pretoria), Argentine (Cordoba) and
Bangladesh (Dacca)
•
In 2011 in Peru (Lima), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Laos
(Vientiane), Cambodia (Penhom Penh) and Myanmar
(Yangoon and Mandalay)
•
In 2012 in Singapore, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur),
Philippines ( Los Angeles and Puerto Princesa), Laos
(Vientiane) and Cambodia (Pnhom Penh)
In 2013 in North Sudan (Karthoum)
From the collected experience to organize a Touring
Lecture/International Seminar there is a need of 4-6 months of
preparation and to exchange around 60 e.mails with the Host
Society and the Lecturers.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Host
Member Societies, the Technical Committees, the President, the
Regional Vice Presidents, the Invited Lecturers and the
Sponsors for their contributions and support
I will summarize this rich experience in the following
words:
•
There is still much darkness in the world. But trust me,
there is also more light in it than ever. So many people
have come to realize that you can curse the darkness or
you can have the courage to be one who lights a candle.
•
We want all of you to make part of our community, to
promote your growth and to make you feel that you are
contributing for our dream come true.
•
Interaction with people is important, because I believe
this experience will help us with new ideas and
interesting insights.
Last but not least I would like to address to all of you a
word of praise and gratitude for your contributions and a
message of hope that this Seminar will allow us to develop a
feeling of universal responsibility and to create the ambition to
serve better our Society, quoting T.H. Huxley’s memorable
lines
The known is finite
The unknown is infinite
Intellectually we are in the middle of an islet
Surrounded by an immense ocean of inexplicability.
Our business in each generation is to
Reclaim a little more land
To add something to the extent and solitude of our
possessions”. (1856).
Haiti/Dominican Republic
Volume 6 - Page 324