Students from the Asia-Pacific region have been telling of their experiences after eight won a student award to attend the 8th Asian Conference on Geosynthetics(GeoAsia8).
The four-day gathering, hosted by the Australasian Chapter of the IGS, known as ACigs, took place in Brisbane, Australia, on June 10-13, this year. Young engineers were invited to apply for a travel grant, provided by the IGS Foundation, to help them attend this flagship regional event.
Sharing their thoughts on the opportunity, Ya Meng, of Tongji University, Shanghai, China, said: "It was an incredibly enriching experience as a graduate student deeply immersed in geosynthetics research. The conference truly opened my eyes to the vibrant scope of research happening across Asia and beyond."
Studying at Wuhan University, Hubei, China, Jialong Deng said highlights included the diverse technical presentations, opportunities for academic participation through oral and poster sessions, practical insights from real-world case studies, and special events for young professionals.
"These interactions not only broadened my international perspective but also helped me enhance my English communication skills in a professional setting," he said.
Also from China, Mingchang Ji, of Henan Polytechnic University, called it a "highly valuable and inspiring experience".
"This experience has broadened my academic perspective, inspired new ideas for future research, and strengthened my commitment to contributing to the geosynthetics community," said Mingchang.
Ziheng Wang, from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, said: "The opportunity to engage with experts and learn about the latest developments was extremely valuable. I especially appreciated the balance between academic content and industry perspectives.
"It was an enriching experience that will significantly inform and inspire my ongoing and future work in geotechnical engineering."
Taishi Nagatani, of Japan's Kobe University, added: "One notable feature of the conference was the strong encouragement of student and young researcher participation. GeoAsia8 was my first experience presenting at an international conference, and it was truly an unforgettable and inspiring opportunity.
"This conference reminded me of the importance of sharing research across borders and cultures, and motivated me to continue improving both my technical knowledge and communication skills."
And Sundaram Srivastava, of the Indian Institute of Technology in Hyderabad, India, said: "GeoAsia 8 was an inspiring event that combined technical depth with practical relevance. It has positively influenced my academic journey and reinforced my commitment to advancing sustainable solutions through geosynthetics."
Viviana Mangraviti, chair of the IGS Young Members Committee, said: "It's clear from the students' feedback how vital it is we continue to facilitate student participation and involvement in IGS conferences. The positive impact to the individual and the industry is significant.
"Our thanks to the IGS Foundation that provided the grants, and organizers of GeoAsia8 who helped give our Student Members such an unforgettable experience."
IGS Student membership is free and offers members access to journals and other online resources, discounted rates on IGS conference entry, and eligibility to enter IGS Awards. Find out more here.
