Geo-Institute Boston Chapter Update

Jorge Fuentes, PE, Senior Estimating Engineer, MENARD

The Geo-Institute (G-I), one of nine specialty institutes established by the American Society of Civil Engineers, is dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by the geoprofession and enhancing the role of geoprofessionals. G-I has over 60 chapters nationwide, including the Boston Chapter, which actively organizes geotechnical lectures, courses, and seminars, and distributes Leo Casagrande scholarships to graduate and undergraduate students through the BSCES Student Scholarships Fund.

Chapter Committee
Our G-I Boston Chapter Committee is comprised of 19 dedicated geotechnical professionals from local consulting firms, specialty construction companies, and academic institutions. These volunteers support BSCES and the broader engineering community.

Recent Activities
As we transition back to in-person events, we encourage everyone in the geotechnical field to reconnect—it's been wonderful to see familiar faces once again! A highlight of our recent activities was the Fifth Charles C. Ladd Memorial Lecture, held on May 2, 2024, at Tufts University. Delivered by Professor Antonio Gens, PhD, FREng, from the Technical University of Catalonia in Barcelona, his lecture titled “Liquefaction Failure of Tailing Dams” explored catastrophic failures due to liquefaction, reviewing historical case studies and our current understanding of flow liquefaction.

Established in 2015, the Charles C. Ladd Memorial Fund supports a biennial lecture by a prominent academic or practitioner in soil behavior and soft ground construction. This engaging lecture was offered free to attendees, thanks to generous donations to the fund. Contributions can be made via check to BSCES, with "Charles C. Ladd Fund" noted in the memo. Checks should be mailed to:

BSCES Charles C. Ladd Fund
One Walnut Street
Boston, MA 02108-3616.

Looking Ahead
To strengthen the Boston Chapter, we need support from the geotechnical industry. We have exceptional professionals, passionate academics, and bright students from around the world. Let’s collaborate to reenergize the G-I Boston Chapter and make a lasting impact!

Exciting activities are on the horizon for the upcoming year—stay tuned for announcements! We plan to reestablish our in-person dinner lecture series, with the first event scheduled for late January or early February. Further details on the topic and date will be shared early next year. Additionally, we are organizing a full-day Geotechnical Seminar, with details to be released in the spring of 2025.

We are always eager to welcome new members who are passionate about geotechnical engineering. If you work in the public or private sector or are an educator interested in getting involved, we’d love for you to join our group. Feel free to reach out to me at Geo.Institute@bsces.org for more information!

Inspirational Closing
To conclude, I’d like to share one of my favorite quotes from Professor Karl Terzaghi (1883 - 1963). This quote can be found in the excellent biography of Karl Terzaghi by Professor D. Goodman, titled "Karl Terzaghi, the Engineer as Artist," published by the ASCE. I consider this book essential reading for every geotechnical engineer, especially for those starting their careers. It has inspired me and imparted many valuable lessons.

“Soil Mechanics arrived at the borderline between science and art. I use the term ‘art’ to indicate mental processes leading to satisfactory results without the assistance of step-by-step logical reasoning. To acquire competence in the field of earthwork engineering, one must live with the soil. One must love it and observe its performance not only in the laboratory but also in the field, to become familiar with those manifold properties that are not disclosed by boring records.”