The deadline for receiving your nominations for the ISSMGE Lifetime Achievement Medal (ILAM 2025) has now been extended to the 14th of April 2025.
Kindly send your nominations to the Secretary General at [email protected]
The Lifetime Achievement Medal is awarded to a person who, by their knowledge, involvement, character and achievements, have made considerable and significant contributions to geotechnical engineering and practice in their country, region or at an international level. The award considers contributions over a whole of a career, and for the manner in which their work has touched and shaped the lives and views of many geotechnical engineers.
The nomination is made by the National Member Society of ISSMGE corresponding to the country of residence of the candidate, via the ISSMGE Vice-President of the corresponding region, who will advise about the received nominations.
The calendar and the procedure are as follows:
Calendar:
Call for candidates: 03rd February - 14th April March 2025
National Member Societies can send nominations until the 14th April 2025, 23:59 hrs by email to the ISSMGE Secretary General ([email protected]) and to the corresponding regional Vice-president.
Pre-evaluation of candidates by regional Vice-presidents - 15th April -30th April
Deadline for pre-evaluated nominations to be submitted to the Awards Committee: 30th April 2025
Submission of proposals by the Awards Committee to the ISSMGE Board: 15th May 2025
Procedure
A maximum of 2 medals are given out recognizing geographical diversity.
The ISSMGE President or its regional representative will present the medal to the recipient in person, at a ceremony to be organized by the National Member Society.
Nomination of candidates
Candidates should be nominated by the National Member Societies via the regional ISSMGE Vice-presidents.
The call for candidates will be launched once per year and 2 medals will be awarded every year.
Nominations must be emailed to the Secretary General at ([email protected]) by the 14th April 2025, 23:59 hrs.
The Regional ISSMGE Vice-Presidents will pre-evaluate the nominations received and submit their outcome to the Awards Committee.
The Awards Committee will select upto 3 candidates from the different regions and submit their proposals to the ISSMGE board.
The ISSMGE board will select the recipients of the medal.
The application of the National Member Society should include:
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A general presentation of the candidate and their lifetime activity and achievements, with emphasis on the impact of their activity on the geotechnical engineering.
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The National Member Society's justification for their nomination based on the criteria below; this should not exceed 2 pages.
Criteria
Eligibility and basic requirements for the award are as follows:
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The proposed nominee should
- Be a well- known and respected member of the ISSMGE community in their country, region or interrnational level, and possess a lifetime of experience and practice and a be major influence on the geotechnical community
- Have played a significant contributory role to the geotechnical engineering industry in their country. Examples of contributions include, but are not limited to:
I. dedicated industry leadership,
II. contribution to innovative industry practice,
III. mentoring of young geotechnical engineers,
IV. long term contribution to administration, organization and leadership of geotechnical companies.
V. long term contribution to local geotechnical societies
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The award cannot be made posthumously. Particular attention should be given to those who are unable to travel and/or attend international conferences in the field, therefore cannot still present their achievements.
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There is a limit of 1 nominee per year per Member Society. If a nominee is not awarded in that year, the National Society can nominate them in subsequent year(s).
The Lifetime Achievement medals were awarded as follows:
2023
- Prof. Michele Jamiolkowski (Italy, posthumously)
- Prof. Harry Poulos (Australia)
- Prof. R.Neil Taylor ( United Kingdom)
2024
- Dr. Suzanne Lacasse (Norway)
- Prof. Norbert Morgenstern (Canada)
Chair AWAC,
Prof. Loretta Batali
