Merge ISRM and ISSMGE, rename them to IGS.

In 1936, when Late Prof. Casagrande (based on Casagrande Memorial Conf. Proceeding?) proposed to form ISSMFE (International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering) and have a first ICSMFE, Dr. Terzaghi told him that its a little early. But Prof. Casagrande convinced his former mentor and took a bold step and he went ahead with the idea of ISSMFE, organized the first ICSMFE with a great success. Participation was from more than 3 dozen countries.

At that time, the words: "Geotechnical / Geotech / Geotechnics / Geomech / Geomechanics" were not coined yet (based on absences of any of these words in different old books and articles) or not that popular. I am not sure who coined this word, but to me it looks that the word was popularized probably by British Geotechnical Society, and their now world famous journal that started publishing immediately after the 2nd world war. Since then, Geotechnical word started getting popular, and finally, we started hearing the change of soil and foundation engineering course names to Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, Advanced Geotechnical Engineerin, and so many other different forms.

If you look at the old books, the names/titles of the books were soil mechanics and foundations engineering. Now a days, you will hear Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering is a common title that refers to Introductory Soil Mechanics (Usually, first course in soil mechanics). So, Geotechnical word has almost replaced the old use of soil mechanics and foundations engineering.

In 199X, the President and Secretary General initiated a name change to curent name and renamed to ISSMGE. I asked the Secretary General at that time, why did you retain that soil mechanics? If I remember correctly, he said that to avoid conflict with sister societies, because geotechnical also refers to them. Who are these sister societies? IAEG and ISRM? I can understand separate society: IAEG, but I do not understand why do we have separate ISRM by now? I can understand, soil mechanics and rock mechanics are different, but with changing scenario, I think that there is no need to separate these mechanics, and have separate international society. Primarily, when I was a member of the ISRM for few years, I hardly got anything worth from ISRM other than members directory. My annual membership was too much a burden to me than its funtionality.

For me, soil mechanis and rock mechanics can be just simple division within Geotechnical Engineering, rather than a need for separate set of societies. Instead of wasting time and money (membership, and other office running costs) for two different societies, I think these two (at least) can be merged and make more efficient. I can guarantee that 90% (though I have not done any research) of the members of ISRM are also members of ISSMGE, and 90% of sponsoring companies are the same companies at both ends. So, why such fuss? It is a pride and ego, and greed for positions (I apologize if I offend you guys), and nothing more than that. I do not see a reason for acquiring two different memberships. I want to be relieved from these dual membership costs.

The conferences can be made more efficient. So, my understanding is that soil mechanics and rock mechanics are simply two sides of the same coin, they share the same metal piece: GEOTECHNICAL, and therefore, they should be merged into one society and rename the merged society as IGS.

I recently heard from a friend of mine, that they are going to retain individual identity and form supreme society naming it Federation of International Geotechnical Societies. If you are not aware of details, you might think that "Federation of ... Societies" refers to Federation of national societies, then you are WRONG, the Federation of refers to ISSMGE, ISRM and IAEG.

My question is why should you have another layer in that pyramid, if its not a greed for positions? Its a selfish approach then find a solution and diffusing the differences we have. These three societies should be dismantled (if not the ISRM, and ISSMGE) and form either IGS or FIGS, and that federation should refer to federation of different national societies. This is my personal thought.

Thanks for reading.

Dr. G. Pokharel
http://www.geotechnical.org/

PS:If the three societies: ISRM, IAEG, and ISSMGE are justified, what about having 4th society: Electronic Geotechnical Society (i.e. without national borders) or Ineternet Geotechnical Society (IGS?) or Cyberspace Geotechnical Society (CGS)?