Distinguished Lecture Series
Registration is open!
44th Annual Geosystems Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series
& Professor Juan Pestana Memorial Event
Friday, May 8, 2026
Krutch Theater, Clark Kerr Campus at UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley and SFGI ASCE are pleased to announce the 44th Annual Geosystems Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series. In addition to celebrating the 2026 graduates, the event also honors the late Professor Juan Pestana and reunites alumni of the Geosystems engineering program.
8:30 AM: Open. Sign-in starts.
9:00 AM - Noon: The morning session will honor the accomplishments and many contributions of the late Professor Juan Pestana to the geotechnical community during his career with UC Berkeley and Geosyntec Consultants. Speakers include:
- Andrew Whittle (MIT)
- Chris Hunt (Geosyntec)
- Giovanna Biscontin (NSF)
- Juan Mayoral (UNAM)
- Juan Perri (Exponent)
- Brian Carlton (NGI)
- Xavier Vera-Grunauer (Geo Group - Ecuador)
Noon - 1:20PM: Lunch.
1:20 PM - 5:00 PM: The afternoon session will be the 44th Annual Geosystems Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series. Featured talks by leading scholars will be:
- Professor Norman Abrahamson (UC Berkeley)
- Professor Susan Burns (Georgia Tech)
- Professor Misko Cubrinovski (University of Canterbury)
5:00 PM - 8:30 PM: The evening program will include a Social Hour, Dinner Banquet, Alumni Reunion, and Recognition Ceremony honoring the class of 2026 Geosystems graduates.
Join the Event - We invite all colleagues, current and former students, and professionals in the field of Geotechnical and Geological Engineering to learn about innovation from distinguished experts, honor Professor Juan Pestana's legacy, and celebrate the next generation of engineers.
Alumni class years 2016, 2006, 1996, 1986, 1976, and 1966 are especially invited to join us! Come reconnect with fellow colleagues to share your experiences, learn about the latest advancements in the field, and see how the future of engineering is being shaped. We look forward to seeing you!
REGISTER now to join us on May 8!
Past Speakers
2025 – Bill Mok, Dennis Grubb, Scott Anderson, Brian Collins, Michael Gardner, Mary McLaughlin, Gang Wang, Linda Al Atik, Bijan Khazai, Ken Johnson, Elizabeth Hausler, Scott Ashford, Nicholas Sitar
2024 – Kenichi Soga, Catherine O’Sullivan, Jorge Zornberg
2023 – Adda Athanasopoulos-Zekkos, Greg Baecher, Suzanne Lacasse
2022 – Jonathan Bray, Ross Boulanger, Carlos Santamarina
2021 – Laurie Baise, Dimitrios Zekkos, Thomas O’Rourke
2020 – George Gazetas
2019 – R. Bonaparte, R. Salgado, J. Zornberg, R. Mitchell, P. Tringale, K. Soga, P. Gallagher, E. Kavazanjian, T. Durgunoglu, J. Ueng, C. Monismith, J. K. Mitchell
2018 – Chris Hunt, Giovanna Biscontin, Juan Pestana, Jon Bray, Eduardo Alonso
2017 – Jonathan Stewart, Robert Kayen, Robb Moss, Adda Athanasopoulos-Zekkos, Onder Cetin, Chang-Yu Ou, Raymond B. Seed
2016 – Kenichi Soga, Ellen Rathje, Susan Hubbard
2015 – Jorge Zornberg, Cino Viggiani, Raymond B. Seed
2014 – Michael F. Riemer, Dan Brown, Kohji Tokimatsu
2013 – Peter K. Robertson, Bernard Amadei, James W. Rector
2012 – Steven Kramer, Steven Glaser, Edward Kavazanjian
2011 – Angela G. Kupper, Jonathan D. Bray, Richard Finno
2010 – Norm Abrahamson, Lelio Mejia, Clyde Baker
2009 – Iraj Noorany, Thomas O’Rourke, Juan Pestana
2008 – Raymond B. Seed, Demetrious Koutsoftas, James K. Mitchell
2007 – Nicholas Sitar, Rudolph Bonaparte, Robert V. Whitman
2006 – R. Kerry Rowe, Brenda Bohlke, Robert Mair
2005 – Lloyd S. Cluff, John T. Christian, I. M. Idriss
2004 – Thomas O’Rourke, W. D. Liam Finn
2003 – Robert G. Bea, Peter Byrne, Mark Randolph
2002 – Ben C. Gerwick Jr., Mark D. Zoback, Suzanne Lacasse
2001 – Kenneth Stokoe II, Richard Goodman, Peter R. Vaughan
2000 – William Marcuson, Reuben Samuels, D. Salcedo / R. Sancio
1999 – Ghislain de Marsily, Michael W. O’Neill, Serge Leroueil
1998 – J. Michael Duncan, John Burland, Richard D. Woods
1997 – Ralph B. Peck, Georg Teutsch, Robert Koerner
1996 – M. Jamiolkowski, N. G. W. Cook, J. P. Giroud
1995 – G. Wayne Clough, David E. Daniel, Richard Goodman
1994 – Suzanne Lacasse, S. P. Neuman, K. Ishihara
1993 – Roy Allen Freeze, James K. Mitchell, Tor L. Brekke
1992 – J. Michael Duncan, Paul H. Gilbert, George F. Pinder
1991 – J. Barry Cooke, James K. Mitchell, Kaare Hoeg, Leslie Robertson
1990 – [Harry Bolton Seed Memorial Symposium]
1989 – John A. Cherry, Elio D’Appolonia, Harry G. Poulos
1988 – Harl P. Aldrich, John A. Franklin, Robert L. Schuster
1987 – James Coleman, Charles C. Ladd, Ronald F. Scott
1986 – Nilmar Janbu, Alfred J. Hendron, Franklin D. Patton
1985 – Charles Fairhurst, James K. Mitchell
1984 – John Lowe, Ronald F. Scott, Peter Wroth
1983 – Evert Hoek, Ralph B. Peck, Robert V. Whitman
