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 39 of Season 5, our guest is Sarah Springman of the University of Oxford - the 2025 Terzaghi lecturer!
SHOW NOTES:
- Here's some background on the colleges at Oxford: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/what-are-oxford-colleges
- Turns out that the Monasavu Dam videos aren't as good as I thought. Here's a quick one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx0ZjZCYxU8
- Better to start here for more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monasavu_Dam
- Some background on Prince Philip's contributions to engineering in the UK: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35201197
- Here's Mark Randolph's keynote from the ISFOG 2020 conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ns6eytE34
- Of course, you can see Sarah give her Terzaghi Lecture at Geotechnical Frontiers 2025! More info and registration at http://www.geotechnicalfrontiers.com.
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 38 of Season 5, our guest is Alexandra Clarà Saracho of the University of Texas at Austin!
SHOW NOTES:
- Here's some background on "Engineering of the Big." https://magazine.engr.utexas.edu/2023/engineering-of-the-big
- Here's the Bruce Lee BMW ad in question. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXwJACmAchg
- Start here for the Oxford-Cambridge rivalry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford%E2%80%93Cambridge_rivalry
- And here for Texas-Oklahoma, at least for football: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_River_Rivalry
- Spend a week with us in Louisville next spring at Geotechnical Frontiers! http://www.geotechnicalfrontiers.com
- Alex's research group and info about them is here: https://sites.utexas.edu/sarachoresearchgroup
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 37 of Season 5, our guest is Paola Bandini of New Mexico State University, and a current member of the G-I Technical Coordination Council!
SHOW NOTES:
- We recorded this episode LIVE at DFI 49 in Aurora, CO! I mean, all the episodes are recorded live, but this was in person.
- More info on CBBG - start here: https://cbbg.engineering.asu.edu
- Find out all about the Organ Mountains! https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/new-mexico/organ-mountains-desert-peaks-national-monument
- Here's Paola's bio as a new Region Governor: https://www.asce.org/about-asce/elections/paola-bandini
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 36 of Season 5, our guest is Leela Krishna Mohan of Texas A&M University, and the current Vice Chair of the G-I Student Leadership Committee!
SHOW NOTES:
- Here's a quick talk by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam so you can see what Leela is talking about! Be inspired! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SDkzDlw1yc
- Do you want to make chicken biryani? There are tons of recipes - here's one to get you going: https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/chicken-biryani-recipe
- Student membership in ASCE is FREE and a great way to start getting involved with the society! Start here: https://www.asce.org/communities/student-members
- More info on the Cross-USA Lecture! Be sure to apply to host the lecturer in 2025-26! https://www.geoinstitute.org/chapters/cross-usa-lectures
- Check out some of the projects from the Texas Instruments India Innovation Challenge: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG0qIyPiMiS0l8aOA3vmguFDyPJOZLUUD
- More info on the A&M Center for Infrastructure Renewal! https://tti.tamu.edu/facilities/cir
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 35 of Season 5, our guest is Vishal Patel of American Geotechnical and Environmental Services, and the current President of the National Capital G-I chapter!
SHOW NOTES:
- The Mount Vernon Trail bridge is a super cool project: https://mountvernontrail.org/2024/05/23/rebuilt-bridge-23-opened-across-dyke-marsh/
- Specs on the HTC Shadow from 2009! https://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1643
- Here's the website for the National Capital G-I Chapter: https://asce-ncsgi.org
- Want to go to Kalamazoo? Of course you do! Here's some info to start! https://www.discoverkalamazoo.com/
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.