SPEECH President-Elect SOUTHEAST ASIAN GEOTECHNICAL SOCIETY
Dr. Za-Chieh Moh, Founding President of Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society and Founding Chairman of the Association of Geotechnical Societies in Southeast Asia.
Dr.Chung-Tien Chin President Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society Dr. John Chien-Chung Li Chairman of the Organizing Committee Prof. Meei-Ling Lin Chairperson Conference Committee Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS) has come a long way since its founding in 1967. It is now 43 years old and saw Indonesia, Philippine, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand become direct members of International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE). Taiwan and Malaysia remain in SEAGS and were joined by Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar last year. The efforts of Prof. Pinto, immediate Past President of ISSMGE and Prof. Dennis T. Bergado, Secretary General of the SEAGS in bring in the three new members of SEAGS are very much appreciated. I understand that Philippine has now lost its membership of the ISSMGE because of default in payment of subscription and that they do not have 30 members to qualify for ISSMGE membership. To encourage the Philippine geotechnical engineers to revive their geotechnical society, ISSMGE Geotechnical Seminars were held on 6 & 7 of May 2010 respectively in Manila and Cagayang De Oro in Philippine. Prof. Pinto, Prof. Dennis T. Bergado, Dr. Lai Yip Poon and I took part in giving lectures at the seminars.
The Philippine geotechnical engineers were persuaded to join the SEAGS and start all over again.
I am humbled by the trust and support given to me by the Council of the SEAGS in electing me as the incoming President of SEAGS. I assure you that I will do my best and hope that I will have your continuing support. The SEAGS has been a very close knitted society. The people involved in its activities are very friendly and warm especially at conferences friendships are renewed and new friends are found. The SEAGS is an incubator of stable grouping of member countries in Southeast Asia with interest in geotechnical engineering. When a member country is well developed it applies to join ISSMGE as direct member with at least 30 members in its membership. Those member countries then apply to join the AGSSEA.
The AGSSEA provides common platform for interaction of geotechnical activities in the region. Resources are pooled together and more effective and greater participation can be achieved. Thus SEAGS with be stable with the creation of AGSSEA that provides continuity in the healthy development of the geotechnical societies in the region.
The Association of Geotechnical Societies in Southeast Asia (AGSSEA) was formed in December 2007 with SEAGS, VSSMGE and HKGS as founding members. In October 2009 Singapore and Thailand joined the AGSSEA and thus gave credibility to the existence of AGSSEA and the solidarity of the geotechnical communities in Southeast Asia. I understand the Indonesia has also agreed to join the AGSSEA. We look forward to receiving the official confirmation soon.
I would like to congratulate Prof. K.Y. Yong for being elected by the AGSSEA Council as its incoming Chairman. Both Councils of SEAGS and AGSSEA have decided to accept Singapore’s bid to host the Joint 18SEAGC and the First AGSSEAC in 2013 under the organization of SEAGS, AGSSEA and GeoSS.
The SEAGS and AGSSEA have also decided to jointly publish a joint geotechnical journal. The AGSSEA will coordinate the activities of the geotechnical activities regionally and internationally. From time to time e-Newsletters will be published and circulated by email. Seminars and short courses will be organized on a regional basis depending on the local logistics and support.
We note that ISSMGE has initiated the formation of Young Geotechnical Engineers Group to have direct dialogue with the President of ISSMGE. In line with this initiative, the 17th SEAGC has parallel YSEAGC and this will be continued in the 18SEAGC. A Special Interest Group will be formed to undertake the identification and planning of activities for young geotechnical engineers in the region under the AGSSEA sponsorship. We hope we have the support of ISSMGE.
AGSSEA has launched a competition for the design of its logo and it is open to all regardless of age and nationality. A cash reward of US$200 is for the winner. The closing date is 1 August 2010. All are encouraged to submit an entry.
I like to invite Prof. K.Y. Yong to say a few words as Chairman-Elect of the AGSSEA and as host of the coming Joint SEAGS and AGSSEA Conference in Singapore in 2013.
Thank you
Dr. Ooi Teik Aun
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