Prof Jidong Zhao to Lead International and National Technical Committees in Geomechanics
The Department is delighted to share that Prof. Jidong Zhao has been elected as chairman of two prestigious technical committees in computational geomechanics. These appointments not only underscore Prof. Zhao’s leadership in his field on the global stage, but also highlight the Department’s research calibre as well as international reputation.
First, Prof. Zhao will be the new Chair of Technical Committee 103 (TC103) on Numerical Methods in Geomechanics of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE). This appointment recognizes his distinguished career and contributions at the forefront of computational innovation in geotechnical engineering. Succeed a line of eminent scholars in leading the committee — one of ISSMGE’s largest — comprising almost a hundred members, Prof. Zhao’s vision for TC103 will be built on three core principles — integration, innovation, and impact (3Is). His key goals with the committee include advancing multi-scale and multi-physics modeling to tackle grand challenges like climate-related geo-hazards, fostering innovation through community benchmarking and shared resources, as well as strengthening the bridge between academic research and industry practice to ensure real-world impact.
Concurrently, Prof. Zhao will assume the role of Chair of the Technical Committee for Computational Granular Mechanics under the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (CSTAM), effective 1 January, 2026. Prof Zhao is the first Hong Kong-based Chair for this Technical Committee. This role highlights his foundational research and authority in the specialized modeling of granular materials, a critical research area beyond geomechanics.
These leadership positions affirm Prof. Zhao’s standing as a global authority in the computational modeling of geo-materials and granular media. They present significant opportunities to shape research directions, cultivate emerging talent, and foster collaboration across global and national communities. The Department thus congratulates Prof. Zhao on this exceptional work and achievements, and looks forward to his continued contributions as he guides these important committees to advance the field.
