Geo-Institute Director’s Cut

On Director's Cut, Geo-Institute Director Brad Keelor interviews G-I members about anything and everything. You might hear about their favorite geotechnical project, their favorite music, or their favorite pie. In Episode 17 of Season 6, our guest is Kenichi Soga of the University of California Berkeley!
SHOW NOTES:
- I was recovering from a cold in this one - you can tell by my voice.
- Home page for the Center for Smart Infrastructure: https://smartinfrastructure.berkeley.edu/
- Kenichi's Rankine Lecture from earlier in 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AxzE7RSGJk
- There's a 1960 Berkeley civil faculty photo and guide at https://ce.berkeley.edu/news/454. Just take in the names for a minute.
- Here's the Fundamentals of Soil Behavior book by Jim and Kenichi (and now Catherine, too!): https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Fundamentals+of+Soil+Behavior%2C+4th+Edition-p-9781119832317
- Be sure to stick around til the end to hear some more of Kenichi's thoughts about Jim Mitchell!
The Geo-Institute is a technical society with about 12,000 geotechnical engineers and geologists as members. Find out more or join at http://www.geoinstitute.org.
Music courtesy of very cool Seattle band Head Like A Kite. Song is Director's Cut from the 2010 album Dreams Suspend Night. Check them out at http://www.headlikeakite.com.

On Director's Cut, Geo-Institute Director Brad Keelor interviews G-I members about anything and everything. You might hear about their favorite geotechnical project, their favorite music, or their favorite pie. In Episode 16 of Season 6, our guest is Shana Carroll of D.W. Kozera!
SHOW NOTES:
- Here's where to start learning about Southern Magnolias: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_grandiflora
- Info on the Sparrows Point container terminal project: https://www.marinelog.com/inland-coastal/ports-terminals/sparrows-point-container-terminal-aims-to-be-third-largest-on-u-s-east-coast
- Construction Angels is a very worthwhile cause. Find out how you can contribute at https://www.constructionangels.us
- Always, always, always get involved with your local G-I chapter! https://www.geoinstitute.org/chapters/find-a-chapter
- JFK came out in 1991, and is 3 and a half hours long! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JFK_(film)
- Info on Blankman, the pinnacle of cinema in the 1990s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blankman
- Learn more about Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Small Business program: https://www.goldmansachs.com/community-impact/10000-small-businesses
The Geo-Institute is a technical society with about 12,000 geotechnical engineers and geologists as members. Find out more or join at http://www.geoinstitute.org. 
Music courtesy of very cool Seattle band Head Like A Kite. Song is Director's Cut from the 2010 album Dreams Suspend Night. Check them out at http://www.headlikeakite.com.

On Director's Cut, Geo-Institute Director Brad Keelor interviews G-I members about anything and everything. You might hear about their favorite geotechnical project, their favorite music, or their favorite pie. In Episode 15 of Season 6, our guest is Nick Chen of the University of Central Florida!
SHOW NOTES:
- Believe it or not, there's a Youtuber who's a surveyor and influencer. Here he is showing the application of UAVs on landfills. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5iZsZ-P-qA
- Find out everything you need to know about G-I Graduate Student Organizations (GSOs)! https://www.geoinstitute.org/students/graduate-student-organizations
- Of course you should visit Kennedy Space Center while you're in the Orlando area! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKVlYqGLUbA
The Geo-Institute is a technical society with about 12,000 geotechnical engineers and geologists as members. Find out more or join at http://www.geoinstitute.org.
Music courtesy of very cool Seattle band Head Like A Kite. Song is Director's Cut from the 2010 album Dreams Suspend Night. Check them out at http://www.headlikeakite.com.

On Director's Cut, Geo-Institute Director Brad Keelor interviews G-I members about anything and everything. You might hear about their favorite geotechnical project, their favorite music, or their favorite pie. In Episode 14 of Season 6, our guest is Claudia Zapata of Arizona State University, the 2025 Carl L. Monismith Lecturer!
SHOW NOTES:
- Check out this guide to Colombian Spanish - Claudia mentioned some of these! https://greenmochila.com/a-la-orden-beginners-guide-to-colombian-spanish/
- Here's where to start on Phoenix weather: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Phoenix
- You, yes YOU, can join a G-I technical committee! Fill out this form and we'd love to have you! https://www.asce.org/communities/institutes-and-technical-groups/geo-institute/committees/technical-committee-application
- For more info on NSF ERCs: https://www.nsf.gov/eng/engineering-research-centers
- And the landing page for CBBG! https://cbbg.engineering.asu.edu/ - Your starter guide to the Mexico City pyramids! https://www.contexttravel.com/stories/articles/visiting-teotihuacan-mexico-city-pyramids
- And more info on the Monismith Lecture! FREE registration to watch Claudia's in case you can't make it to Phoenix! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-monismith-lecture-claudia-zapata-tickets-1279794733499
The Geo-Institute is a technical society with about 12,000 geotechnical engineers and geologists as members. Find out more or join at http://www.geoinstitute.org.
Music courtesy of very cool Seattle band Head Like A Kite. Song is Director's Cut from the 2010 album Dreams Suspend Night. Check them out at http://www.headlikeakite.com.

On Director's Cut, Geo-Institute Director Brad Keelor interviews G-I members about anything and everything. You might hear about their favorite geotechnical project, their favorite music, or their favorite pie. In Episode 13 of Season 6, our guest is Jeff Dunn, Associate Editor for GEOSTRATA, Berkeley grad, and consultant!
SHOW NOTES:
- Jeff has to be talking about Digger's Diner for the inferno omelette - but they're surprisingly common! Here's Digger's menu: https://www.diggersconcord.com/menus/
- Learn more about the Davies Symphony Hall at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_M._Davies_Symphony_Hall
- Of course, you can read GEOSTRATA at http://www.readgeo.com - including back issues, and watch GEOSTRATA Extra right here on the Youtube channel!
The Geo-Institute is a technical society with about 12,000 geotechnical engineers and geologists as members. Find out more or join at http://www.geoinstitute.org. 
Music courtesy of very cool Seattle band Head Like A Kite. Song is Director's Cut from the 2010 album Dreams Suspend Night. Check them out at http://www.headlikeakite.com.

On Director's Cut, Geo-Institute Director Brad Keelor interviews G-I members about anything and everything. You might hear about their favorite geotechnical project, their favorite music, or their favorite pie. In Episode 11 of Season 6, our guest is Derrick Dasenbrock of the Minnesota Department of Transportation!
SHOW NOTES:
- We recorded this on St Patrick's Day, just in case that wasn't clear.
- Here's the home page for the Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race, with one of Derrick's photos front and center! https://www.kineticbaltimore.com/
- Just some of the great content from Geo-Congress 2020, which Derrick chaired! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXHjEGSzGOPOwZZd7aYq3RnPzdXqez4gn
- Here's the form to join a G-I Technical Committee: https://www.asce.org/communities/institutes-and-technical-groups/geo-institute/committees/technical-committee-application
- Here's some random family's footage of their trip to Wild World in the 80s. Yes, it actually looked like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5LLhb_BaHE
- Here's a Geo-PIT talk Derrick did in 2020 on public service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtaJ3c76SzE
- The Love Boat actually did get a reboot in the 90s - it didn't go super well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Boat:_The_Next_Wave
- Details on the Shamrock Shake: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamrock_Shake
The Geo-Institute is a technical society with about 12,000 geotechnical engineers and geologists as members. Find out more or join at http://www.geoinstitute.org. 
Music courtesy of very cool Seattle band Head Like A Kite. Song is Director's Cut from the 2010 album Dreams Suspend Night. Check them out at http://www.headlikeakite.com.

On Director's Cut, Geo-Institute Director Brad Keelor interviews G-I members about anything and everything. You might hear about their favorite geotechnical project, their favorite music, or their favorite pie. In Episode 10 of Season 6, our guest is Omid Ghasemi-Fare of the University of Louisville!
SHOW NOTES:
- Here's Omid's paper on using geothermal piles to deice bridge decks: https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/9780784485330.076
- Some background on the geography of Iran, and this will get you to the climate as well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Iran
- There are, predictably, a gazillion kofta (kufta, kefta, etc) recipes. Here's a good one to start with: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZSBrVdbxjg
- It's easy to review conference papers! Volunteer here: https://www.geoinstitute.org/volunteer-review-conference-papers
- You can find TONS of other content from Geotechnical Frontiers on our Youtube channel! We had a great time in Louisville!
The Geo-Institute is a technical society with about 12,000 geotechnical engineers and geologists as members. Find out more or join at http://www.geoinstitute.org.
Music courtesy of very cool Seattle band Head Like A Kite. Song is Director's Cut from the 2010 album Dreams Suspend Night. Check them out at http://www.headlikeakite.com.

On Director's Cut, Geo-Institute Director Brad Keelor interviews G-I members about anything and everything. You might hear about their favorite geotechnical project, their favorite music, or their favorite pie. In Episode 8 of Season 6, our guest is Cesar Cespedez of Cal Poly Pomona, the winner of the 2025 Geo-Shirt design competition!
SHOW NOTES: 
- Want to learn more about pavements? Start with our Summer School episode from last summer! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3mgnzkJWCo
- Start here to learn about Southern California beaches: https://www.trojans360.com/trojans360posts/splash-or-pass-a-guide-to-southern-californias-beaches
- Your resource for all things ASCE student membership! https://www.asce.org/communities/student-members
- Info on the Cal Poly Pomona Arabian Horse Center: https://www.cpp.edu/wkkelloggarabianhorsecenter/index.shtml
- And an article on the underrated spots on the CPP campus: https://thepolypost.com/arts-and-culture/2023/08/29/guide-top-5-underrated-spots-on-campus/
The Geo-Institute is a technical society with about 12,000 geotechnical engineers and geologists as members. Find out more or join at http://www.geoinstitute.org.
Music courtesy of very cool Seattle band Head Like A Kite. Song is Director's Cut from the 2010 album Dreams Suspend Night. Check them out at http://www.headlikeakite.com.

On Director's Cut, Geo-Institute Director Brad Keelor interviews G-I members about anything and everything. You might hear about their favorite geotechnical project, their favorite music, or their favorite pie. In Episode 7 of Season 6, our guest is Victoria Bennett of RPI!
SHOW NOTES: 
-Bad weather in VA when we recorded, and there were predictably network issues. We stitched it all together.
- Victoria's 2020 Geo-PIT talk from Minneapolis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt4cakCWL6M
- Ralph Peck's legendary engineering judgment video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNaN6Lhwr1I
- We remembered Tom Zimmie in the Oct/Nov 2023 GEOSTRATA: https://www.readgeo.com/geostrata/october_november_2023/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=1919280
- Of course, it's always a good time to get involved with Geo-Institute technical committees: https://www.geoinstitute.org/committees
- Stick around at the end for a Tom Zimmie-inspired field trip!
The Geo-Institute is a technical society with about 12,000 geotechnical engineers and geologists as members. Find out more or join at http://www.geoinstitute.org. #geotechnicalengineering #geotech #civilengineering #directorscut
Music courtesy of very cool Seattle band Head Like A Kite. Song is Director's Cut from the 2010 album Dreams Suspend Night. Check them out at http://www.headlikeakite.com.

On Director's Cut, Geo-Institute Director Brad Keelor interviews G-I members about anything and everything. You might hear about their favorite geotechnical project, their favorite music, or their favorite pie. In Episode 6 of Season 6, our guest is Geo-Legend Shobha Bhatia of Syracuse University, the 2025 Koerner Lecturer!
SHOW NOTES:
- The full text of a 2018 case study on the Geotechnical Women Faculty is available here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325608557_Geotechnical_Women_Faculty_from_1989-2017_A_US_Case_Study
- A great article about a book on Vancouver in the 70s: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-in-the-70s-chronicle-of-city-s-formative-years-1.3796443
- To get info and register for Geotechnical Frontiers, visit http://www.geotechnicalfrontiers.com!
- For more information on past Koerner Lectures and some recordings, visit https://geosyntheticsmagazine.com/2024/04/01/reflecting-on-the-robert-m-koerner-lectures/
- I messed up the name of GMA. Here's the Geosynthetic Materials Associaton: https://geosynthetics.textiles.org/
- Watch Roman Hryciw's Director's Cut and get the full Bob Koerner story: https://youtu.be/0fZHxQy3WEw
The Geo-Institute is a technical society with about 12,000 geotechnical engineers and geologists as members. Find out more or join at http://www.geoinstitute.org. 
Music courtesy of very cool Seattle band Head Like A Kite. Song is Director's Cut from the 2010 album Dreams Suspend Night. Check them out at http://www.headlikeakite.com.