Guillermo Díaz-Fañas, WSP, anchored the panel discussion with their joint keynote lecture: “Diversi ty as a Driver of Innovation: The Mexico City Paradigm.” DFI’s Large followed this keynote with a brief introduction of the WiDF initiatives as a model for other countries to consider similar encouragement and support of women in the industry. The following panelists participated, and their involve- ment is gratefully acknowledged: • Norma Patricia López Acosta, Ph.D., moderator, Instituto de Ingeniería, UNAM, Mexico • Mary Ellen Large, P.E., D.GE, DFI, USA • Anne Lemnitzer, Ph.D., P.E., USA, Germany Long-standing DFI Europe supporter, Professor William Van Impe Rock-Impedance Contrast.” Professor Sam Paikowsky, Ph.D. , Univer s i ty of Massachusetts Lowell, closed the sessions with his interesting keynote lecture: “Appli- cation of Dynamic Analyses for Testing of Non-Uniform Deep Foundations.” Both lectures were very well received and sparked lively discussion during the event. Thank you to DFI trustees, Franz-Werner Ger- ressen, Bauer Maschinen, and John Wolo- sick, P.E., D.GE, Keller, who represented DFI by moderating foundation sessions. Congratulations also to Vern Schaefer, Ph.D., Iowa State University, who presented a keynote lecture: “Past, Present, and Future of Ground Improvement in the Americas.” Other DFI initiatives were showcased at the conference including DFI’s Women in Deep Foundations (WiDF) Committee and two plenary sessions on Industry- Academic Collaboration. WiDF Com- mittee members organized lectures and a panel discussion to present the committee’s initiatives and challenges for women in the industry. Sissy Nikolau, Ph.D., and • Ashley Morales-Cartagena, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Mexico • Ana Maria Parra Bastidas, Ph.D., Carlos H. Parra & Asociados, Mexico • Guillermo Díaz-Fañas, WSP, USA We especially thank Nikolau, Díaz- Fañas and Morales-Cartagena who worked diligently to prepare the panel and foster this important discussion on gender stereotypes, importance of diverse viewpoints, and work/life balance. Many women and men approached the panelists afterwards expressing their interest in developing similar initiatives in their countries, and several influential members of the ISSMGE community could be seen wearing the WiDF lanyards to help spread the WiDF message. Th e two I n d u s t r y -Ac a d emi a Collaboration plenary sessions, led by Paulin Aguirre and Large, highlighted the importance and benefits of industry input in academic research pursuits and industry- funded research programs. Large presented an overview of DFI’s Committee Project Fund program along with ADSC’s Industry Advancement Fund and FHWA’s practical geotechnical research program as models for other societies to develop similar programs. Michel Coudry of Soletanche highlighted the effective and successful DFI-EFFC collaboration on tremie concrete, support fluid and working platforms initiatives. Long-standing DFI Europe supporter, Professor William Van Impe, highlighted academic and industry viewpoints and prompted discussions of how DFI can partner with ISSMGE for mutual benefit. Tugce Baser, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, presented challenges facing young professors to secure industry opportunities. Other panelists included Alejo Sfriso, SRK, Argentina, ISSMGE vice president for South America; Francisco Ciruel Ochoa, Arup, USA; Esteban Astudillo de la Vega, Society of Mexican Structural Engineers, Mexico; Manual Saez Prieto, Vinci Construction, Mexico; and Shin-Tower Wang, Ensoft, USA. These discussions prompted great interest in finding ways to collaborate with engineering partners worldwide to develop, share and promote agreed practices. Congratulations to WiDF member and 2019 professional development grant recipient, Tugce Baser, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who was selected as one of three ISSMGE Bright Spark lecturers, representing Canada/USA. She presented a lecture on “Thermal Energy Storage in Borehole Arrays Installed in Unsaturated Soils,” which received great attention and interest. DFI thanks the organizers for the opportunity to be involved and send our congratulations to Walter Paniagua and his team for this exceptionally well-planned and executed event. We look forward to the 2023 PanAmerican conference, which will be hosted by the Chilean Society of Geotechnical Engineering in Chile, South America. The next SMIG-DFI conference in Mexico City will be held in 2021. Contact Mary Ellen Large at [email protected] to get involved … all are welcome. 32 • DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JAN/FEB 2020
