Geo-Institute Boston Chapter

The Geo-Institute (G-I) was created by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of nine specialty institutes. The G-I works to address the challenges of the geoprofession and enhance the value of geoprofessionals. There are more than 60 chapters of the G-I across the country and the G-I Boston Chapter typically organizes and leads several activities and events such as geotechnical lectures, courses, and seminars. The local G-I also awards graduate and undergraduate scholarships from the Leo Casagrande Memorial Fund.

Currently, the G-I Boston Chapter Committee consists of seventeen geotechnical professionals from local consulting firms, specialty construction companies, and academic institutions, who proudly volunteer their time to serve the BSCES and the engineering community.  

G-I Boston Chapter is now actively returning to in-person events as we emerge from the pandemic and it is great to see our colleagues again. Two recent events to note were the 4th Ladd Lecture and the 18th Arthur Casagrande Memorial Lecture.   

The 4th Charles C. Ladd lecture on May 12, 2022, was delivered by Dr. Don J. DeGroot to a large crowd at Northeastern University’s ISEC Auditorium. Dr. DeGroot is a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Dr. DeGroot’s lecture was titled “Causes, Effects, and Mitigation of Sample Disturbance in Fine-Grained Soils” and described the current state of knowledge and practice in sampling of fine-grained soils. The Charles C. Ladd Memorial Fund was established in 2015 to support a lecture presented biennially by an eminent academic or practitioner on a topic related to soil behavior and construction on soft ground. This outstanding lecture was free to all attendees through donations to the Charles C. Ladd Fund. Donations to the fund to support future lectures can be made with checks payable to BSCES with Charles C. Ladd Fund noted in the memo line. Checks should be mailed to BSCES, Charles C. Ladd Fund, One Walnut Street, Boston, MA 02108-3616.

4th Ladd Lecture - Dr. Don DeGroot and Dr. Jack Germaine

G-I Boston Chapter also held the 18th Arthur Casagrande Memorial Lecture Series on October 27, 2022. This Lecture Series was established in 1983 and is typically given every other year by an eminent engineer with longstanding achievements in practice, teaching, and/or research in geotechnical engineering. This most recent Arthur Casagrande Memorial Lecture was given by Dr. Patricia J. Culligan. Professor Culligan is the current Matthew H. McCloskey Dean of the University of Notre Dame’s College of Engineering and recently received the 2021 H. Bolton Seed Medal for expanding boundaries of geoenvironmental and sustainability engineering. The lecture was titled “Green Infrastructure for Urban Stormwater Adaptation.” The lecture presented the findings of a decade long study that investigated the multi-faceted performance of urban stormwater green infrastructure (GI) in New York City. The study considered not only the hydrological performance of different engineered GI interventions, but also how social and policy dimensions might influence the success, or otherwise, of city-wide GI programs for urban stormwater adaptation. This outstanding lecture led to an engaging question and answer session between the attendees and Dr. Culligan.

18th Casagrande Lecture – Dr. Patricia Culligan and
Geo-Institute Boston Chapter Chair Todd Dwyer

G-I Boston Chapter has several other activities planned for the upcoming year, so be on the lookout for upcoming events. In early March 2023, we will be holding a daylong symposium related to Transportation Geotechnics. Details regarding the date and the agenda for the event will be forthcoming in early January 2023.

G-I Boston Chapter is also looking forward to an additional in-person dinner lecture in the spring of 2023. The topic and date of dinner lecture will also be announced in early 2023.

G-I Boston Chapter is always looking for additional members – geotechnical practitioners in the public or private sector or educators who are interested in getting involved in the committee’s activities and promoting our mission. If you have interest in becoming involved with G-I Boston Chapter, please contact me at Geo.Institute@BSCES.org, or contact any one of our members.