Message from Prof. Jean Louis Briaud
Past – President ISSMGE
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
SEAGS was new to me when I got involved in ISSMGE many years ago. I started to better understand what SEAGS was and how it operated as I learned more about ISSMGE as a young professor at Texas A&M University. I became Chair of the ISSMGE Technical Committee on Soil Erosion when President Ishihara asked me to take the lead of this new committee and then in 2009 I became President of ISSMGE thanks in part to SEAGS support. As President it became clear to me that SEAGS was playing a critical role in Asia and that many people had contributed to its success. I am referring to the original leadership of Dr. Za-Chieh Moh, a giant in our field, followed by many others including Dr. Bala Balasubramaniam, the ultimate communicator; Dr. Dennes Bergado the long time Secretary General; Prof. Seng Lip Lee & Prof. KY Yong from Singapore; Drs Ting Wen Hui & Ooi Teik Aun from Malaysia; Dr. Surachat Sambhandaraksa and now Dr. Noppadol Phienwej from Thailand, Prof. Charles Ng from Hong Kong and many others.
SEAGS has been a wonderful incubator for new societies to join ISSMGE. SEAGS is the Asian University of ISSMGE Societies who get to graduate and become full size members of ISSMGE. The surprising fact is that the ultimate success of SEAGS will be its extinction when all Asian societies have become members of ISSMGE. I am delighted to see such support for a great event which marks a significant milestone in the life of SEAGS. I applaud the work done by the leaders of SEAGS; your success is demonstrated by the very important role that SEAGS plays in ISSMGE and I wish you a magnificent celebration crowned by this star filled symposium.
Be well and be safe.
Jean-Louis Briaud
Distinguished professor, Texas A & M University
President of ISSMGE 2009-2013
11 February 2017
