2026 Reese Lecture by J. Carlos Santamarina

Date and location: Friday, 24 April 2026, at the Mulva Auditorium (EER Center),  at the University of Texas (main campus), Austin, TX.

The UT Geotechnical group is pleased to announce that Dr. J. Carlos Santamarina will be delivering the 2026 Lymon C. Reese Distinguished Lecture on “Building on Insight: The Enduring Legacy of Lymon C. Reese.” Dr. J. Carlos Santamarina is Professor and Clough Chair at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, GA.

We thank Fugro for the generous sponsorship of the 2026 Reese Lecture, which makes it possible to offer the full program free of charge (including the Career Expo and Reception).

Individual Registration to attend the 2026 Reese Lecture Activities
(Lecture, Reception, Golf)

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IMPORTANT: This year, the Reese Lecture will be preceded by the Stokoe Symposium, which will take place the day before (Thursday, 23 April).

Abstract:

Building on Insight: The Enduring Legacy of Lymon C. Reese

Lymon Reese’s seminal contributions, documented through his research papers and the two classical FHWA manuals, have established a foundational body of knowledge that continues to shape geotechnical engineering practice today. This presentation revisits key aspects of his work and explores their enduring impact in our field and beyond, with a focus on: drilling muds (weight, invasion, filter cake, and sensing muds); offshore foundations (sediment properties, characterization, and observation); sediment response to repetitive loading (mechanical, thermal, and moisture cycles); load distribution and downdrag effects; non-destructive evaluation of deep foundations; corrosion; and grouting techniques, including annular and internal repair applications. Together, these topics highlight Reese’s lasting influence on both research and engineering practice.

Friday 24 April

1:00 – 4:30 PM: Check-in desk open (near Mulva Auditorium)

2:30 – 4:00 PM: Geotechnical Industry Career Expo (EER Center)

4:30 – 6:00 PM: Reese Lecture (Mulva Auditorium)

6:00 – 8:00 PM: Reception (EER Lobby)

Saturday 25 April

7:00 AM               Practice/Driving range included in the registration

8:00 AM              Reese Memorial Golf Tournament Tee Time (Teravista Golf Club)

Bio:

J. Carlos Santamarina is Professor and Clough Chair at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and completed his graduate studies at the University of Maryland and Purdue University. He has held faculty positions at NYU Polytechnic, the University of Waterloo (Canada), KAUST (Saudi Arabia), and Georgia Tech. Santamarina’s research integrates experimental and numerical approaches to investigate the behavior of geomaterials, including sediments, fractured rocks and complex fluids, with applications in geotechnical engineering and energy geotechnology. A frequent keynote speaker, he has delivered the Terzaghi, Casagrande, and Bishop Lectures. He is a member of both Argentine National Academies and has received numerous honors, including ASTM’s Hogentogler Award, the Korean Geotechnical Society Award, and Saudi Arabia’s Tarek Al-Qasabi Award.