Global Link – International Activities
Spring 2024
Saudi Arabian engineers, ASCE president bond at conference
ASCE members join 2024 President Marsia Geldert-Murphey at the first-ever exhibit of Future World Vision’s virtual Mega City 2070 in Saudi Arabia.
ASCE 2024 President Marsia Geldert-Murphey was among the dignitaries headlining the Second International Conference on Sustainability: Developments and Innovations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she delivered the keynote speech. Participants from more than 40 countries attended, where they could marvel at ASCE’s Future World Vision virtual reality Mega City 2070 for the first time in Saudi Arabia. Geldert-Murphey’s speech, “Engineering the Future: Bridging Imagination and Reality,” also leaned into that spirit. The conference was organized and hosted by Prince Sultan University with ASCE as a non-financial co-sponsor.
Conference co-chair Mohamed Ezzat, II, D.Eng., M.ASCE, was Geldert-Murphey’s host and entrée into her meetings with members of the university’s ASCE student chapter, where he is faculty advisor, and with leaders and members of the ASCE Saudi Arabia Section, with which Ezzat serves as secretary.
Geldert-Murphey accepted an official Riyadh Province proclamation honoring ASCE from its deputy governor, His Royal Highness, Prince Mohammad bin Abdurrahman bin Abdulaziz. Read a LinkedIn post Geldert-Murphey wrote about the experience.
Engineers shaken by Taiwan quake appreciate ASCE’s expression of sympathy
On April 3, Taiwan was hit by its strongest earthquake in 25 years. And while tragic, the nation was better prepared than most, as its structures showed impressive resilience, keeping damage to a minimum. ASCE sent a message of sympathy to members from Taiwan and the Greater China Section, and to affiliated groups including the Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering and the Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council.
“Thanks for your concern … I [had] difficulty getting off my bed due to the serious shaking. However, everything is fine,” wrote former Region 10 director and ASCE representative to ACECC Albert T. Yeung, currently on Region 10’s Past Directors and Governors Council. His reply echoed other messages back to ASCE. “I have lived in California for more than a decade, experienced many earthquakes including the devastating Loma Pieta Earthquake in 1989 … However, I have never experienced so many aftershocks in such a short period. In fact, there was another one minutes ago.”
ASCE international groups also extended support, among them the India Section and its regions, the Republic of Korea Group, the United Arab Emirates Section, and the Colombia Section.
“We did have a difficult time of rescuing lives around the clock … we are working closely and help each other overcome the hardships. Your care is very warm and heartfelt!” wrote Luh-Maan Chang, Ph.D., F. ASCE, professor emeritus of National Taiwan University and Purdue University.
Ask your questions of ASCE’s 2025 president-elect nominees
The nominees for 2025 president-elect, Marsha Anderson Bomar and Kenneth H. Rosenfield, will field members’ questions in a pair of live online town halls before next month’s ASCE election. What would you ask? Here’s background on each, including their visions for the Society and goals for their presidencies if elected. These opportunities have been scheduled to account for time differences:
Publish your research results free in the journal ASCE OPEN
ASCE OPEN: Multidisciplinary Journal of Civil Engineering launched in 2023 as a Gold Open Access journal. Authors typically pay an article processing charge to publish a paper in the journal, but ASCE provides waivers to those who qualify. You might, depending on where you live and if you lack access to other funding. Inquire by submitting an Open Access Waiver request to articlewaiver@asce.org.
Philippines Section embraces Engineers Week
Members of the Philippines Section show they know how to have a good time during the annual Engineers Week celebration in February. Highlights included hosting a build-a-bridge competition for high school students and a social gathering for 11 new members.
Join other global members discussing hot topics at ASCE Collaborate
ASCE Collaborate is an exclusive forum where Society members from the United States and around the world engage in candid discussions and share advice about issues relevant to civil engineering. From technical questions to career guidance, virtually any topic is welcome. Start or join a conversation.
Get English-language translation and editing of journal papers
You can now produce polished English-language papers that meet the rigorous style standards of academic journals, including ASCE’s. A partnership with Editage offers language editing and translation services for authors. ASCE members receive a 15% discount. Learn how it works.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference
and Probabilistic Mechanics & Reliability Conference
Chicago, Illinois
May 28-31
Engineering Mechanics Institute 2024 International Conference
Vienna, Austria
Sept. 11-13
Second International Conference in Civil Engineering for a Sustainable Planet (ICCESP 2024)
Co-sponsor ASCE India Section, Southern Region
Kazhakuttom, Thiruvananthapuram, India
Dec. 6-8
Submit your item for a future Global Link
Do you have news or an announcement for ASCE international members that might be worthy of an item in Global Link? Submit it to Civil Engineering Source associate editor John Marston at jmarston@asce.org.