Professor Nicola Moraci prepares to give the next LMNS Lecture on the behaviour of interfaces in geotechnical structures.

Established to celebrate the pursuit of excellence in geosynthetics in Europe, the lecture series opens each edition of the quadrennial EuroGeo conference. This year, Prof. Moraci, an IGS Council member and Vice President of IGS Italy (AGI-IGS), will speak on 'Suitable design approaches for interfaces involving geosynthetics under various loading and flow conditions'.

He explained: "I chose this topic because I believe interface behaviour is often at the heart of how these systems perform. The research I will present provides practical guidance on design methods and offers an opportunity to revisit some conventional approaches, while also introducing new methodologies that can enhance both safety and durability in geosynthetic applications.

"In an era where resilience, sustainability, and innovation are at the forefront of civil engineering challenges, I believe that geosynthetics offer powerful solutions. This lecture is an opportunity to reflect on how our design approaches can evolve to meet those challenges."

He continued: "Being selected to deliver the LMNS Lecture at EuroGeo8 is both a great honour and a significant responsibility. It represents a meaningful milestone in my academic journey and a valued opportunity to share the outcomes of many years of research with the geosynthetics community."

"I am also especially grateful to the IGS community, which has been instrumental in fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing throughout my career. Delivering the LMNS Lecture is an exciting and humbling experience, and I hope it will be a meaningful contribution to the ongoing dialogue within our field."

The IGS European Regional Activities Committee (ERAC) supports the organizing committee of EuroGeo conferences and leads the selection of the LMNS Lecturer.

IGS ERAC chair Patricia Guerra-Escobar said: "It's very exciting to have Professor Moraci for the LMNS Lecture, where he will present groundbreaking research on geosynthetic interface behaviour. It will be a great opportunity to learn how to properly select materials, design for both ultimate and serviceability limit states, and prevent failures related to inadequate design and installation."

EuroGeo8 will be held from September 15-18, this year, in Lille, France. Discover the latest updates via the conference website here.