Dr. B. K. Maheshwari
President, ISET
I feel highly honoured and humbled to be elected unopposed as the President of Indian Society of Earthquake Technology. I am grateful to ISET members for giving me an opportunity to serve as a president of the society and thank them for their trust and confidence in me. I have taken charge of the office along with other members of Executive Committee on 26th April, 2023 for a term of two years. We propose to work closely with all the members of the society and further stimulate society activities to meet the objectives of ISET.
One of the most important agenda of this two-year term is to rejuvenate the local chapters and initiate formation of student chapters, since these are the pillars and wings of the society. Unfortunately, at many chapters, elections have not been held for a long time and as a result these chapters are dormant. With a view to make such chapters active as early as possible, necessary steps are already being taken. We are also in the process of starting new chapters in cities/states where the society does not have one.
One of the flagship events of the society is the “8th International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics (8th ICRAGEE)” to be tentatively organized in December 2024. Also, it is high time that ISET along with other stakeholders bid for organizing the 19th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (19WCEE) in India in the year 2028.
Another important item is the “ISET Journal of Earthquake Technology”. We aim to make this a journal of international repute. This will require timely publication of all the issues with a reputed publisher. The Executive Committee is in process of finalizing a strong editorial board and we request all members of the society to submit their research work to this journal. I assure you of a timely processing of the submitted manuscripts.
To expand its activities, ISET envisions collaborations with other societies and organizations in the country, such as Indian Geotechnical Society, Indian Association of Structural Engineers, CSIR Labs etc. ISET also aims to collaborate with internationally reputed societies such as EERI, ISSMGE, ASCE, etc. and to strengthen its base in the SAARC countries. Additionally, the Society shall strengthen its interaction with industrial partners working in the area of Earthquake Engineering in the country.
The profession of Earthquake Engineering has undergone a rapid transformation in the past few decades. ISET thus needs to make strenuous efforts to not only keep the pace with the latest developments in this profession but to also increase its visibility by transferring the benefits of research in earthquake engineering to the society and common man at large. In addition to providing a forum for researchers and professionals to come together and exchange ideas and solutions to issues related to earthquake technology, ISET should also play an instrumental role to raise awareness about earthquake safety and earthquake-resistant technologies in the society.
I hereby solicit the support and active participation of all Fellows and Members of the Society in accomplishing the aforementioned tasks and objectives in order to make ISET more vibrant and fruitful. I also welcome your valuable inputs to make ISET more responsive towards the needs of the general public and other stakeholders and for searching sustainable solutions to the problems related to Earthquake Technology. To have wholesome participation, please encourage everyone working in the area of Earthquake Technology to become a member of the society.
Finally, I take this opportunity to invite my younger colleagues to come forward and become part of this journey of ISET at a time when it is soaring to new heights and entering an exciting era of growth.
Dr. B. K. Maheshwari
President, ISET
August 24, 2023