The ISSMGE Awards Committee is announcing the call for nominations, for the ISSMGE Lifetime Achievement Medal (ILAM 2025).
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 engineers and the geotechnical practice in their country, region or at an international level.
The award considers the recipients contributions over the course of their career, and also how their work has made an impact amongst the Geotechnical community.
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 procedure are shown below:
Calendar:
Call for candidates 2025: 03rd February 31st March 2025
National Member Societies can send nominations until 31st March 2025, 23:59 via email to the ISSMGE Secretary General ([email protected]) and to the appropriate Regional Vice-president.
Pre-evaluation of candidates by Regional Vice-Presidents: 01st April 15th April 2025
Deadline for Regional nominations to be forwarded to the Awards Committee: 15th April 2025
Awards Committee submission of proposals to 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.
The Regional ISSMGE Vice-Presidents will pre-evaluate the nominations received and communicate the outcome to the Awards Committee.
Nominations should be sent to the Secretary General ([email protected]) from 03rd February to 31st March 2025.
The Awards Committee will select up to 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:
- A general presentation of the candidate and his/her lifetime activity and achievements with emphasis on the impact of his/her activity on the geotechnical engineers
- The National Member Societys argument for their nomination based on the criteria below; this should not exceed 2 pages.
Criteria
Eligibility and requirements for the award are as follows:
The proposed nominee should
- Be a well- known and respected member of the ISSMGE community in their country, region or international level, and possess a lifetime of experience and practice and a be major influence on the geotechnical engineers
- Have played a significant contributory role to the geotechnical engineering industry in their country. Examples of contributions include, but are not limited to:
- dedicated industry leadership,
- contribution to innovative industry practice,
- mentoring of young geotechnical engineers,
- long term contribution to administration, organization and leadership of geotechnical companies.
- long term contribution to local geotechnical societies
The award cannot be made posthumously. Particular attention should be given to those who are not able to travel and/or attend international conferences in the field, therefore cannot still present their achievements.
There is a limit of 1 nominee per year per Member Society. If a nominee is not awarded, 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)
2024
- Dr. Suzanne Lacasse (Norway)
- Prof. Norbert Morgenstern (Canada)
Chair AWAC,
Prof. Loretta Batali
