On November 21, the 2025 Geotechnical Challenge took place, organized by the Chilean Geotechnical Society (SOCHIGE) and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC). The event, now a well-established tradition within the Chilean geotechnical community, reached a historic level of participation, reflecting the growing enthusiasm of younger generations for applied geotechnical engineering and its real-world challenges.
The competition is aimed at university students and involves building a Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall inside a wooden box, using sand and paper strips as reinforcement. Once the structure is completed, teams must apply a 500 N load, with the goal of ensuring the wall withstands it while using the least amount of reinforcement (paper) possible.
The exercise represents a genuine technical challenge. Teams must combine manual skills, planning, and engineering judgement. To support this, the organizing committee provides information about the materials and even sand samples for preliminary testing, allowing teams to design their solutions ahead of time and face a task that mirrors real professional scenarios.
The 2025 edition brought together over 40 teams and more than 100 participants from various regions across Chile. For the first time, the competition also welcomed an international team, which traveled from Peru specifically to compete, an unprecedented aspect that gave the event a new international dimension. "The presence of an international team shows that this challenge has the potential to grow beyond our borders. I truly hope it continues expanding in that direction" says Rafael Iglesias, SOCHIGEs Vice President and one of the organizers of the 2025 Geotechnical Challenge.
Awards and Complementary Activities
The winning teams received cash prizes and spots to attend the upcoming XII Chilean Geotechnical Congress, a valuable opportunity to engage with the professional community. The event also featured three technical talks delivered by sponsoring companies, as well as lunch and networking spaces that allowed students to meet one another, share experiences, and begin building connections within the field.
For many participants, this was their first practical encounter with geotechnical design. The chance to test, build, and then watch a structure respond under load provided a meaningful experience and an excellent complement to the concepts learned in the classroom.
Commitment to the Next Generation
The organizers highlighted the enthusiasm of the participants and the growing relevance of the Challenge as a key space for integrating students and young professionals into the geotechnical community. "We are very pleased with the turnout and, above all, with the commitment shown by each team. Its essential to create spaces where students can experiment and put their ideas to the test", adds Professor Juan Carlos Tiznado, from PUC.
The Geotechnical Challenge is part of a broader range of initiatives led by SOCHIGE in recent years, including technical seminars and outreach activities aimed particularly at students and young professionals. These efforts also focus on strengthening the role of women in our profession, highlighting the societys commitment to integrating both new generations and women early into Chiles geotechnical community.
Get Involved!
This initiative is part of the broader YMPG News campaign, showcasing activities from young geotechnical professionals around the world.
Check out other recent YMPG highlights:
-
Inspiring Global Pursuits: Indonesia Launches the SOIL Webinar Series
https://www.issmge.org/news/inspiring-global-pursuits-indonesia-launches-the-soil-webinar-series -
Bridging Generations in Geotechnics: Macedonian YMPG at EyGEC 2025 and Looking Ahead to Eurock 2026
https://www.issmge.org/news/bridging-generations-in-geotechnics-macedonian-ympg-at-eygec-2025-and-looking-ahead-to-eurock-2026
We would love to hear from your YMPG group too!
To contribute an update or video from your country's Young Members Group, please write to:
[email protected]
Lets keep sharing and learning together across borders!
