October Preview: GeoAmericas, Sustainability, Geosynthetics

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Black and white image of old typewriter with the words SNEAK PEEK typed in the center of the frame. Photo by Mohd KhairilX via Shutterstock license.
The month of October offers plenty of playoff baseball for Geosynthetica's editor to obsess over in his free time (while his wife rolls her eyes and his daughter uses the distraction as a way to download another 40 games onto her iPhone), but it isn't all fun and games. It's also a month of engaging learning online. Here's a...

GSI Fellowships for 2020 – 2021 Academic Year

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Woman's hands with pen writing on notebook and holding mobile phone. Computer keyboard in foreground.
The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) invests tens of thousands of dollars in engineering research, both in-house and with its GSI Fellowships program. The latter endeavor has supported Master’s and Doctoral students around the world in significant ways. These recipients, in turn, have entered the engineering field or progressed further in engineering with a background that features a strong understanding of...

The GeoWire for the Week of September 28

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A meadow is surrounded by forest in Humboldt State Park (California). Photo by Ethan Daniels via Shutterstock license.
Start the week with the latest in the geoengineering world. Here's the GeoWire conversation for the week of September 28. WORK SMARTER. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Himanshu Gupta argues that one thing that could accelerate the adoption of climate-friendly technologies and designs is if more climate scientists chose industry over academia. Is capitalism responsible for climate damage? Polluting industries that choose to operate...

VIDEO: GCL Seal Revives a Historic German Moat

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The historic moat in Delitzsch, Germany had been losing water for decades and threatened to become swampy. Renovation plans included the planting of reeds. To prevent reed roots from growing into the bed and impair the moat, a multi-barrier seal was requested. The planners chose Bentofix® X from NAUE. This geosynthetic clay liner features a polyethylene coating on one side...

The GeoWire for the Week of September 21

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Two empty railway tracks under a blue sky, through nature. German railroad lines with a diminishing perspective. No traffic. By YesPhotographers via Shutterstock license.
Start the week with the latest in the geoengineering world. Here's the GeoWire conversation for the week of September 21. WORK SMARTER. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT It's Climate Week in New York! European oil and gas companies have broadened their businesses with significant investments in renewables. American companies, conversely, have doubled down on fossil fuels. Germany, meanwhile, seems to be playing a double...

Berlin 2 Final Report Seeks End of Life Protocol for HDPE Geomembranes

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Immediately following 2014's 10th International Conference on Geosynthetics (September 2014, Berlin), a high-level, one-day workshop on exposed HDPE geomembranes convened at the headquarters of BAM, Germany’s Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing. The event, Berlin 2, brought together field luminaries who represented not only the international practice but multiple perspectives from geosynthetics: polymer and additive package development, manufacturing, testing,...

Recommended: Engineering With Nature on Coastal Protection

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USGS public domain photo of mangroves. Photo shows spidery network of roots dipping into water with lush green foliage above.
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering With Nature (EWN) initiative uses a collaborative process to align natural and engineered systems "to efficiently and sustainably deliver economic, environmental, and social benefits." A large network of government agencies and non-governmental organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund) contribute knowledge and resources to EWN projects, publications, workshops, public outreach,...

Big Topics & Big Names in GeoAmericas 2020 ONLINE Lectures

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Microphone image, GAP 2019
GeoAmericas 2020 will be the first major geosynthetics conference to be held entirely online. The new format has been welcomed by the global community and a very noteworthy series of lectures has been announced. The 4th Pan-American Regional Conference on Geosynthetics will take place online 26 – 31 October 2020, giving participants plenty of flexibility to balance their learning schedule with work. We preview...

Jorge Zornberg on Siamak’s Geosynthetics Podcast

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Image of Professor Jorge Zornberg seated beside a materials testing table. From the University of Texas - Austin.
Our good friend Siamak Paulson, an Australia-based engineer, continues his series of interviews with not just Australian geosynthetics experts but luminaries from around the world. The latest video podcast from Siamak's Geosynthetics Podcast features International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) Past President Jorge Zornberg. Other episodes available on Siamak’s YouTube Channel include interviews with Kent von Maubeuge, Warren Hornsey, Mike Dobie, Brendan...

The GeoWire for the Week of September 14

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Eagle Creek Wildfire in Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. Photo by Christian Roberts-Olsen via Shutterstock standard license.
Start the week with the latest in the geoengineering world. Here's the GeoWire conversation for the week of September 14. WORK SMARTER. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT It's hard to look at much else right now outside of the devastating wildfires in Oregon and California. RELATED: A new tool is being used to map every tree in California. The hope is that...