Terzaghi Oration
Purpose
The Terzaghi Oration was instituted to recognize a person of distinction and outstanding in his or her contribution to geotechnical engineering, for services to the International Society, or to geotechnical engineering and is normally be presented at the International Conference. The Terzaghi Oration is delivered at each ISSMGE International Conference as a tribute to Professor Karl Terzaghi, first President of the International Society. The Terzaghi Oration normally covers case histories, derived from professional activities and explores the dynamic interaction between consulting work, teaching, research and publication. The orations exemplify Prof. Terzaghi's intellectual approach to engineering and geology and to the observational method both for improving design and for the advancement of knowledge.
Nomination of candidates
The Terzaghi Orator is be a person of distinction, and outstanding in her or his contribution to geotechnical engineering. The President is responsible for selecting the Terzaghi Orator after consulting with Member Societies and Board Members.
Terzaghi Orations
| Name | Conference | Lecture |
|---|---|---|
| Jean-Louis Briaud (USA) | 21st ICSMGE Vienna, Austria, 2026 |
Soil Erosion: From Fundamentals to Applications |
| Antonio Gens (Spain) |
20th ICSMGE Sydney, Australia, 2022 |
Geotechnical Engineering in a Deltaic Environment |
| Peter Day (South Africa) |
19th ICSMGE Seoul, South Korea, 2017 |
Challenges and shortcomings in geotechnical engineering practice in the context of a developing country |
| Suzanne Lacasse (Norway/Canada) |
18th ICSMGE Paris, France 2013 |
Protecting society from landslides – the role of the geotechnical engineer |
| Harry Poulos (Australia) |
17th ICSMGE Alexandria, Egypt 2009 | Tall buildings and deep foundations – Middle East challenges |
| Frans B.J. Barends (Netherlands) | 16th ICSMGE Osaka, Japan 2005 |
Associating with advancing insight |
| Michele Jamiolkowski (Italy) |
15th ICSMGE Istanbul, Turkey 2001 | Leaning tower of Pisa: End of an Odessey |
| Kenji Ishihara (Japan) |
14th ICSMFE Hamburg, Germany 1997 |
Geotechnical aspects of the 1995 Kobe earthquake |
| Victor de Mello (Brazil) |
13th ICSMFE New Delhi, India 1994 |
Revisiting our origins |
| Kaare Hoeg (Norway) |
12th ICSMFE Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1989 |
Foundation engineering for an offshore gravity platform. |
| T. William Lambe (USA) |
11th ICSMFE San Francisco, CA, USA 1985 |
Amuay landslides |
Professor Jean-Louis Briaud (Vienna, 2026)
Professor Antonio Gens (Sydney 2022)