The 4th International Conference on New Developments in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering that organized collaboratively by Near East University and Turkish Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering was held at NEU Atatürk Culture and Congress Center (AKKM) under the auspices and support of Dr. Suat İ. Günsel, NEU Founding Rector and Conference Honorary Chair, and with the contributions of NEU Board of Trustees Chairman Assoc. Prof. Dr. Irfan S. Günsel.
According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of Near East University, 68 senior administrators and scientists from 35 foreign countries took active part in the Organizing Committee and the International Advisory Board of the conference.
Many internationally renowned scientists, scholars, engineers, practitioners and experts from all over the world participated in the 4th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering that was chaired by Near East University Rector Professor Dr. Ümit Hassan.
Approximately 500 participants from 50 countries participated in the conference. The two day scheduled conference provided platform for keynote lectures, debates, sessions and presentations conducted by many reputable figures such as Professor Antonio GENS, Vice-President of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering ( ISSMGE) for Europe, Spain, Professor Fatma BALIGH, Vice-President of the ISSMGE for Africa, PhD Thomas L. HOLZER, Research Geologist from USGS Menlo Park Science Center, California-USA, Professor Dong-soo KIM, Vice-President for International affairs of Korean Geotechnical Society and Organizing Committee Chair of the 19th ICSMGE to be held in Seoul-Korea in 2017, Professor Ivan VANICEK, Former Vice-President of the ISSMGE for Europe, Czech Republic, Professor Rolf KATZENBACH from Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, Professor Lyesee LALOUI from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the editor of Energy and the Environment Journal, Switzerland, Professor Baraja M. DAS from Calofornia State University Sacramento, USA, Professor Ergün TOĞROL, Honorary President of TSSMGE, Turkey, Professor Feyza CINICIOĞLU, President of Turkish Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (TSSMGE) and the Chair of Conference Organizing Committee, Prof. Dr. Turan DURGUNOĞLU from ZETAŞ Soil Technologies, Prof. Dr. Mete ERDEMGİL from SMP Engineering, Orhan INANIR from Geogroup, and Dr. Rasin DÜZCEER from Kasktaş. The papers presented at the conference were published as a book of 800 pages.
Alongside reputable keynote lecturers, scientists, scholars and practitioners, many academics from Turkish universities and TRNC universities, representatives of NGOs and public institutions participated in the conference.
On the third day the participants had ample opportunity for visits to historical sites in Nicosia, Kyrenia and Famagusta and technical excursions to Geçitköy Pond, the reaching point of freshwater from Turkey to North Cyprus through pipeline under sea.
As the locomotive of science and innovation in North Cyprus, Near East University feels the pride and honor of hosting such an outstanding international conference and providing platform for many internationally renowned figures to exchange ideas and discuss the new developments in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
The next International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ICSMGE) will be held in Seoul-Republic of Korea from September 17 to 22, 2017.