Prof. Jidong Zhao Invited to Deliver ISSMGE State of the Art Lecture at ICSMGE 2026

We are delighted to share that Prof. Jidong Zhao, Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at HKUST, has been invited to deliver an ISSMGE State of the Art Lecture at the 21st International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ICSMGE 2026), to be held in Vienna, Austria, in June 2026.

Prof. Zhao’s lecture, titled “The Discrete Element Method in Geomechanics: Advances, Challenges, and Opportunities”, will highlight recent developments in this important research area and explore future directions for the field. Prof. Zhao will be joined by fellow distinguished speakers Catherine O’Sullivan and Matt Evans in presenting at the prestigious international conference.

The State of the Art Lecture series is a highlight of the ICSMGE, bringing together eminent experts to share cutting-edge insights with the global geotechnical community. As such, Prof. Zhao’s invitation shows not only the tremendous, highly-regarded scholarship that he contributes to geomechanics but also his prominence in the field. The Department therefore congratulates Prof. Zhao, and looks forward to his continued success with profound interest and a great sense of pride.

For more information on the conference, please visit the ICSMGE 2026 home page.