Geotechnical News• December 2019
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CANADIAN GEOTECHNICAL SOCIETY NEWS
Brunswick as a Professor at the Civil
Engineering Department. For the next
four decades, through his relentless
dedication, Arun gained a reputation
for his combined excellence in teach-
ing, research, service, and professional
practice.
During his 28 years of teaching at
UNB he supervised over 50 masters
and PhD students, 130 undergraduate
senior reports, and served as direc-
tor of UNB’s geological engineer-
ing program from 1990 to 1995. His
research on soil structure interaction
has been published in more than 60
peer reviewed journal articles and he
has presented at 53 conferences in
12 countries. He provided service at
the national level for the CGS where
he served as Editor of the Canadian
Geotechnical Journal from 2002 to
2007 and as an Associate Editor from
1992 to 2002. In addition, since the
mid 1970’s Arun maintained a role
as a Senior Consultant with Jacques
Whitford, now Stantec.
Arun’s work in consulting and
research have earned him worldwide
recognition and several awards with
more than 20 honors and recognitions
including;
• G. Geoffrey Meyerhof Award, R.M.
Quigley Award, Stermac Award,
and the R. M. Hardy Address
of the Canadian Geotechnical
Society;
• John B. Stirling Medal of Engineer-
ing Institute Canada;
• Eric Garland Award and the Allan
P. Stuart Award of the University
of New Brunswick;
• Fellow of the Engineering Institute
of Canada, the Canadian Academy
of Engineering, and the Canadian
Society of Civil Engineering; and
• Fellow of the Churchill College,
Cambridge University, UK.
As a consultant, Arun provided
significant contribution to the success
on many national and international
projects. Considering the 2019 confer-
ence is here in St. John’s, it would be
fitting to note some of the local world
class projects:
• Hibernia and Hebron Offshore Oil
Platforms,
• White Rose and Terra Nova FPSO
• Vale’s Voisey’s Bay Mine and Long
Harbour Processing Plant; and
• Nalcor’s Muskrat Fall Hydroelec-
tric Project.
With an appreciation of his contribu-
tions to the geotechnical engineering
profession, Arun is a deserving winner
of the CGS’ highest award. In support
of this award here are some excerpts
of his supporting letters:
Kerry Rowe
-
Arun oversaw a criti-
cal period of growth of the Canadian
Geotechnical Journal with a rapid
expansion of its submissions from
international authors that helped
lay the foundation for the journal to
achieve its current position as a top
international journal in our field
.
Craig Lake
-
An examination of his
research output will see his emphasis
on practical engineering problems that
have been funded by industry and gov-
ernment organizations. This emphasis
on practical research has allowed him
to create knowledge that has led to
application in many major consulting
projects in Atlantic Canada.
Andy Take
-
If I have one goal for
my career as Canada Research Chair
at Queen’s University, it is to attempt
in my own small way to emulate Arun
– to work to inspire undergraduate
students and to ensure every student I
mentor succeeds wildly beyond what
they thought possible for themselves
.
Mike Whitford -
“With clients, he
was nothing short of excellent. He is
always able to find the right path to
explain the problem and the subse-
quent solution. In fact, that may well
be his most valuable trait.”
For myself along with many of my
colleagues, Arun has made a signifi-
cant impact in shaping our careers,
both professionally and personally.
Left to right: Mario Ruel, Arun Valsangkar, Paul Deering, Kevin Biggar.
