Prof. Dr. Cavit Atalar came together with the UN Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The 19th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (19th ICSMGE) was held at the COEX Convention Centre in Seoul, Korea from 17 - 22 September 2017. The theme of the 19th ICSMGE was “Unearth the Future, Connect Beyond.” It was about bridging the gaps between past and future, between young and senior engineers, and between developing and developed nations. Prof. Dr. Cavit Atalar, Director of Near East University Assessment Center of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, lecturer of the Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering course at the Department of Civil Engineering, and the Chairman of the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, attended the 19th ICSMGE as an invitee.

The press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of the Near East University highlights that the International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering is an annual event that held in different countries on different dates each year. ICSMGE aims to pursue mutual understanding and collaboration between experts and interested parties and create opportunities of sharing and learning up-to-date knowledge and offer a platform where scientists, experts, practitioners, researchers and research scholars discuss present and prospective pertinent issues. Besides, ICSMGE has set it as its overriding aim to contribute to research studies and science by discussing the problems encountered in different countries across the world and to generate solutions. Within this scope, The ICSMGE 2017: 19th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering brought together many leading academic scientists, experts, practitioners, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. It also provided a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and academic scientists to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.

Un Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered the Opening Speech of the ICSMGE 2017

The 19th ICSMGE was opened with an address from Ban Ki-moon, the former Secretary General of the United Nations.

In his remarks, Ban Ki-moon underlined that he, as the UN Secretary-General, always attached importance on the delivery of aids to disaster areas and indicated that after the US Former Foreign Minister Hilary Clinton, he was the second person that went to Haiti in 2010 due to the big devastating earthquake where many Haitians and more than 40 UN staffers died. "I hope you will conduct scientific studies that will be useful and beneficial not only for your countries but also for the globe. I firmly believe that you will play a crucial role in reducing the damage of catastrophes occurring across the world and that Geotechnical engineering is the key to the resolution of natural and man-made disasters" said he.

Prof. Dr. Cavit Atalar came together with UN Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Prof. Dr. Cavit Atalar had the opportunity to meet with senior executives, scientists and practitioners from the science world that specialized on the issue as well as the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Underlining that he attended the conference on behalf of the Near East University and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Prof. Dr. Cavit Atalar, as a Turkish Cypriot, extended his appreciations to the Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in recognition of his efforts towards finding a solution for Cyprus conflict. The Former Secretary General expressed his satisfaction for participating in the conference and said "Thank you" in Turkish.

About 2000 Scientists from more than 80 countries attended the conference

Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, one of the world's most prestigious conferences, was realized with approximately 2000 participants from more than 80 countries. For the first two days of the conference, Professor Dr. Cavit Atalar participated in the keynote speeches, and for the other two days he participated in debates and presentations. Professor Atalar along with Professor Feyza Cinicioğlu, President of Turkish Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (TSSMGE), Honorary President Ergün Toğrol and Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto, former President of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) attended a traditional Turkish meal.