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Geotechnical News • September 2014
www.geotechnicalnews.com
GEOSYNTHETICS
Introduction by Jonathan Fannin, Editor
In my opening remarks for the return
of this column on geosynthetics I
observed that - notwithstanding the
ongoing development of novel materi-
als and innovative products - we can
no longer claim geosynthetics are a
new material in construction prac-
tice. I also noted in those opening
remarks that we have an extensive
body of information on geosynthetics,
published in the form of conference
papers and peer-reviewed journal
articles, all of which complement the
many standards for materials testing
and the companion design guidance of
regulatory agencies.
This second article now reports on a
learned society that has, for more than
30 years, contributed substantially to
disseminating the state-of-practice for
the use of geosynthetics in geotech-
nical earthworks – the International
Geosynthetics Society (IGS) and one
of its chapters, the North American
Geosynthetics Society (NAGS). It
also reports on two specialist journals
that have, likewise, contributed to
advancing the state-of-art for use of
geosynthetics in engineering design
– Geotextiles and Geomembranes
(GG) and its companion, Geosynthet-
ics International (GI). The collec-
tive effort of the learned society and
the journals, to provide a forum for
presentation of conference papers and
publication of peer-reviewed articles,
has contributed significantly to what
constitutes the “art and science” of
designing with geosynthetics as we
know it today.
The International Geosynthetics Society
Jorge Zornberg
It is a privilege for me, in my capacity
of current President of the Interna-
tional Geosynthetics Society (IGS),
to share my thoughts about the IGS
to the readership of Geotechnical
News. The International Geosynthet-
ics Society was officially founded on
November 10, 1983. The organization
of early international conferences on
geosynthetics (or “fabrics” as they
were called at the time) provided the
forum for initial discussions on the
formation of an international society.
An early international conference on
the use of “Fabrics” in geotechnics
was held in Paris, France, in 1977.
However, the concept of an interna-
tional society, which will later become
the IGS, was only formulated in 1980.
Subsequently, during the Second Inter-
national Conference on Geotextiles
held in Las Vegas, USA in 1982, the
formation of the IGS was explicitly
discussed. Finally, the “International
Geotextile Society,” as it was named
at the time, was officially founded.
Over its 30 years of existence, the IGS
has grown remarkably. The IGS cur-
rently has over 3,500 members, includ-
ing some 400 student members and 160
corporate members. The IGS chapters,
were initiated with pioneer chapters in
western Europe, North America and
eastern Asia, but subsequently spread
out to the rest of the world, includ-
ing South America, Africa, and east-
ern Europe. During this period, the
IGS has organized seven international
conferences, fourteen regional (conti-
nental) conferences, and hundreds of
national (chapter) conferences. In addi-
tion, current counts show IGS chapters
Jorge Zornberg, IGS President
Jonathan Fannin