from ISSMGE Bulletin: Volume 3 Issue 2 June 2009 (p.5)
Views of Young Geotechnical Engineers
III South-American Conference of Young Geotechnical Engineers
The 3rd South-American Conference of Young Geotechnical Engineers was organized by the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), the Argentinean Society of Geotechnical Engineering (SAIG), the Argentinean National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) and the National University of Córdoba (UNC). This event took place in Córdoba (Argentina) from March 30 to April 1, in the facilities of the Engineering School of the UNC. During the Conference, authorities of Cordoba Province, of the Engineering School of UNC and of the ISSMGE spoke about the importance of research, transference of technology and professional formation to promote novel solutions and knowledge within the geotechnical field.
Opening ceremony: From left to right, Prof. Gabriel Tavella (president of the Engineering School, UNC), Prof. Waldemar Hachich (Vice-President of ISSMGE), Prof Pedro Sêco e Pinto (President of ISSMGE), P.E. Hugo Testa (representing the government of Córdoba Province) and Prof. Franco Francisca (Chair of the Local Organizing Committee).
The conference brought together over 86 participants from 9 different countries. Also attend to the conference the President of the ISSMGE (Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto), the Vice–President for South America (Prof. Waldemar Hachich), authorities of the Argentinean Society of Geotechnical Engineering (SAIG), authorities of the professional council of Civil Engineers of Córdoba City and authorities and professors of the National University of Córdoba.
Delegates and Invitees of the 3rd SACYGE.
Professor Pedro Sêco e Pinto opens the conference with a speech including also relevant aspect and current activities of the ISSMGE. During Monday and Tuesday 51 articles were presented by the delegates from different countries which were organized in six different sessions: Soil Mechanics, Foundations, Environmental Geotechnics, Site and Laboratory Investigations, Embankments and Retaining Structures, and Computational Geomechanics. There were also 5 special keynote lectures: Prof. Ricardo Rocca spoke about of the Unicity in Geotecnical Engineering, Prof. Waldemar Hachich presented a numerical study of soil nailing, Prof. Roberto Terzariol referred to the advances in the study of collapsible soils performed by the geotechnical group of the UNC during the last 40 years, Prof. Pedro Arduino focus on the lateral loaded pile design and Prof. Sêco e Pinto close the Conference with a lecture of lessons learned from two case histories of retaining structures.
Visit to Cerro Pelado Hydroelectric power plant
The different sessions were chaired by geotechnical engineers and professors with a recognized trajectory and assisted by a young delegate. The work was intense, and there were enriching discussions of different topics that many times continue during the coffee breaks. At Monday evening all the attendants visit the geotechnical laboratory at the UNC where there was also time for a confraternity reception. At Tuesday night all the participants shared a dinner tasting a typical barbecue and different wines from Argentina. During the dinner Professor Sêco e Pinto encouraged the Colombian Society to be the organizer of the next South-American Conference of Young Geotechnical Engineers in 2012. On Wednesday there were a field trip where the attendants visited the Cerro Pelado Hydroelectric Power plant, shared a lunch in Villa General Belgrano, visited a regional beer manufacturing. Finally this conference ended with a touristic visit to the Alta Gracia’s Jesuitical Ranch (UNESCO World Heritage).
Reported by Franco Francisca, Chair of the Local Organizing Committee
Adjunct Professor at the National University of Cordoba and Adjunct Researcher of the Argentinean National Scientific and Technical Research Council.
Email: ffrancis@efn.uncor.edu
