The global spread of the COVID-19 virus has caused events around the world to be rescheduled. The organizers of GeoU, which co-locates multiple geosynthetics short courses, are following suit. They have considered it in the best interest of the geosynthetics field to move the event a full year to 2021.
The new dates for GeoU are 20 – 23 April 2021. It will remain at the Sonesta Bee Cave Hotel in Austin, Texas.
GEOU 2021 ANNOUNCEMENT ON COVID-19
The organizers released a statement on March 11:
We are a Texas company with a big passion to drive innovation and sustainability in all things involving environmental engineering. We believe in forging ahead and playing our part in keeping our great Lone Star State and nation strong in work and commerce. So, it is with great care, concern, and responsibility that we will move GeoU to 2021, amid the current COVID19 (Coronavirus) global health alert.
GeoU had already been recognized by many in the field as a welcomed change of format. It set itself apart from other professional development events by focusing on co-located, high-level geosynthetics short courses and significant networking events. The “work hard, play hard” event had landed a number of luminaries in the field to serve as course leaders (e.g., Jorge Zornberg and George Koerner). TRI Environmental, which had originally conceived of the event and which serves as a technical and registration partner, had even added its renowned geosynthetics CQA training course to the GeoU 2021 curriculum. Registrations were reportedly robust.
In 2021, the event will follow the same program, with courses centered around geosynthetics in landfill design and sustainability, landfill CQA, reinforcement applications, and stormwater controls and hydraulic engineering. Instructors have confirmed their availability with the new dates.
“We are fully aware of the logistical and scheduling conflicts this may cause our registrants,” said Chris Kelsey, GeoU Conference Manager. “All current registrations may be carried forward to the April 2021 GeoU and the organizers are working with the Sonesta Bee Cave Austin Hotel on next year’s reservation package.”
Instructors and registrants will be notified individually to facilitate any arrangements necessary associated with this date change.
“We look forward to holding GeoU in April 2021,” said TRI’s Sam Allen, “and being an integral part of educating the world and driving the correct and responsible use of geosynthetics in infrastructure.”
For all GeoU 2021 registration and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Sam Allen at sallen@tri-env.com.
