Lalitpur, May 18, 2025
The Nepal Geotechnical Society (NGS) commemorated its 31st anniversary with a thought-provoking Memorial Symposium at The Plaza, Pulchowk, Lalitpur. This year’s event focused on the theme, “From the Gorkha Earthquake to Jajarkot: A Decade of Lessons, Missed Opportunities, and the Path to Resilience.” The symposium brought together over 250 experts, policymakers, academics, and students, fostering critical discussions on geotechnical engineering and disaster risk management.
Symposium Highlights
President’s Lecture:
Dr. Mandip Subedi, President of NGS, delivered an insightful address titled “From Gorkha to Jajarkot: A Decade of Lessons, Missed Opportunities, and the Path to Resilience.” His lecture emphasized the importance of learning from past disasters and preparing for future challenges.
Memorial Lectures:
Dr. Lok Bijaya Adhikari, from the Nepal Seismological Center, reflected on seismic learnings post-Gorkha Earthquake in his talk, “Learnings from Seismicity: After 10 Years of Gorkha Earthquake.”
Dr. Narayan Marasini, Senior Geotechnical Engineer at NSET, shared critical insights in his presentation, “Geotechnical Challenges and Key Engineering Lessons from the Post-Gorkha Earthquake Reconstruction.”
Panel Discussion:
Moderated by Prof. Dr. Netra Prakash Bhandary of Ehime University, Japan, the panel explored the theme, “What Have We Learned and What Do We Need to Learn from the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake?” Panelists included Dr. Ganga Lal Tuladhar, Dr. Govinda Raj Pokhrel, Dr. Lok Bijaya Adhikari, Dr. Narayan Marasini, and Dr. Mandip Subedi. Facilitated by Dr. Dhundi Raj Pathak and chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Indra Prasad Acharya, the discussion delved into critical areas for improvement in disaster resilience.
NGS Awards 2025: Honoring Excellence
In the second part of the event, the NGS Awards 2025 celebrated individuals and organizations for their remarkable contributions to geotechnical engineering, academic excellence, and community impact.
NGS Life Time Achievement Award:
The highlight was the prestigious NGS Life Time Achievement Award, presented by Er. Mandakini Karki, Vice President of NGS. The recipient’s inspiring speech underscored the enduring value of dedication and innovation in advancing geotechnical knowledge in Nepal.
A Call for Resilience and Innovation
The 31st NGS Day served as a powerful reminder of the need to bridge the gap between academic insights and practical implementation. With continued collaboration among experts, policymakers, and communities, Nepal can pave the way toward a more resilient future.
