Keynote Speakers
5th International Conference on Geotechnical Research and Engineering (ICGRE’20)
The Keynote Speakers for the 5th International Conference on Geotechnical Research and Engineering (ICGRE'20) will be:
Dr. Marte Gutierrez
Colorado School of Mines, USA
Plenary Speaker
Dr. Marte Gutierrez is the James R. Paden Distinguished Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of the DOT Tier 1 University Transportation Center for Underground Transportation Infrastructure (UTC-UTI) at Colorado School of Mines. Formerly, he was Post-Doctoral Fellow, Senior Engineer and Program Leader at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, and Associate Professor/Professor at Virginia Tech. He was Founding Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He has also held visiting professorship and researcher positions in China, Chile, France, Japan and South Korea. He has published more than 300 papers in book chapters, journals and conference proceedings, and has given keynote and invited lectures at several conferences. He has been involved in several landmark and groundbreaking Civil Engineering projects while working in Norway. He is a member of the Editorial Board of five International Journals. He is the recipient of the Geotechnical Research Medal from UK’s Institute of Civil Engineers, the Peter A. Cundall Honorable Mention Award, the Applied Rock Mechanics Research Award from the American Rock Mechanics Association, and the Kwanghua Visiting Professorship from Tongji University. Dr. Gutierrez’s main research interests are in Geomechanics, and Energy and Environmental Sustainability.
Topic of Keynote: Bifurcation and Post Localization Behavior of Granular Soils 
Keynote Abstract
Dr. Mohamed Shahin
Curtin University, Australia
Keynote Speaker
Dr Mohamed Shahin is an Associate Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at Curtin University, Australia. He obtained his BSc and MSc from Cairo University, Egypt, and his PhD from the University of Adelaide, Australia. He has over 25 years of academic and industrial experience with research interests related to Computational Geomechanics, Ground Improvement and Railway Track Geo-technology. He published over 140 peer-reviewed research papers, most of which in top-tier journals. He currently serves as Associate Editor for the Australian Journal of Civil Engineering, Board Member for the Australian Geomechanics Society (Western Australia Chapter) and Associate Director for Western Australia, American Society of Civil Engineers (Australia Section). He is also Fellow Member, Chartered Professional and National Engineering Register of Engineers Australia, and Fellow Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He received several research awards, including the 2013 Prix R.M. Quigley Award (honourable mention) from the Canadian Geotechnical Society and the 2018 Fredlund Award from the Canadian Science Publishing. He also received several teaching awards, including the 2011 & 2016 Vice-Chancellor Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching from Curtin University, Australia.
Topic of Keynote: Bacteria-Driven Cementation (Bi-cementation) for Soil Stabilization in Civil Infrastructure Developments Keynote Abstract
Dr. Tarek Abdoun
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA
Keynote Speaker
Professor Abdoun is the Thomas Iovino Chair Professor and Director, of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Geo-Centrifuge Center. He received several awards from professional societies, including the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) “Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Excellence in Research Prize”, the US Army “Commander’s Award for Public Service with accompanying medal”, and “Shamsher Prakash International Research Award” for young engineers, scientists and researchers. He is also the recipient of several educational societies, including the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) north region “Outstanding Teaching Award”, the “Wharton QS-Stars Reimagine Education Bronze Award”, and Chi Epsilon National Civil Engineering Honor Society “Excellence in Teaching Award”; for the successful development & implementation of web-based education tools and mixed reality educational games in the undergraduate engineering education at several USA campuses. He authored or co-authored over 200 technical publications. His research interests cover geotechnical engineering, Advanced Field Monitoring, Centrifuge & Full-scale Testing, Soil-Structure Interaction, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Satellite Based InSAR Remote sensing, Modeling of Blast loading & Hurricane loading, and offshore systems. He served as chair or member of national and international professional committees of major projects associated with tunnels, dams, levees, and pipelines.
Topic of Keynote: Recent Advances in Physical Modeling & Field Monitoring of Civil Infrastructure Systems Keynote Abstract
Dr. Adel Hanna
Concordia University, Canada
Keynote Speaker
Recipient of the Geoffrey Meyerhof Award for contributions to the art and science of Foundation Engineering. A Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineering, Editor of the ASCE Manuals of Engineering Practice, Associate Editor for the International Journal for Housing Science, Published over 200 papers in the field of foundation engineering, Participated in preparing design manuals in Canada and USA.
Topic of Keynote: Performance of Stone Columns in Cohesive Soil Keynote Abstract