✅ 64th Rankine Lecture, 2026:
University of Southampton professor William Powrie will discuss the role of observed performance and behavioural mechanisms in achieving resilient infrastructure affordably when he delivers the next Rankine Lecture.
William Powrie was named the 64th Rankine Lecturer earlier this year by the British Geotechnical Association (BGA). The BGA has now revealed that his lecture will be titled “The role of behavioural mechanisms and observed performance in affordable, resilient geotechnical infrastructure”.
Powrie is a professor of geotechnical engineering at the University of Southampton and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He was recently awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Powrie is known for his work on geotechnical aspects of transport infrastructure, which encompasses groundwater control, in-ground construction to reduce environmental impacts in urban and other sensitive areas, understanding and mitigating vegetation and climate change effects, and fundamental soil behaviour.
His internationally acclaimed textbook Soil Mechanics: Concepts and Applications is now in its third edition.
When he delivers the Rankine Lecture, Powrie will discuss how observed performance and behavioural mechanisms are used to set suitable boundary conditions and materials parameters, to achieve resilience affordably.
University of Southampton professor William Powrie will discuss the role of observed performance and behavioural mechanisms in achieving resilient infrastructure affordably when he delivers the next Rankine Lecture.
William Powrie was named the 64th Rankine Lecturer earlier this year by the British Geotechnical Association (BGA). The BGA has now revealed that his lecture will be titled “The role of behavioural mechanisms and observed performance in affordable, resilient geotechnical infrastructure”.
Powrie is a professor of geotechnical engineering at the University of Southampton and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He was recently awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Powrie is known for his work on geotechnical aspects of transport infrastructure, which encompasses groundwater control, in-ground construction to reduce environmental impacts in urban and other sensitive areas, understanding and mitigating vegetation and climate change effects, and fundamental soil behaviour.
His internationally acclaimed textbook Soil Mechanics: Concepts and Applications is now in its third edition.
When he delivers the Rankine Lecture, Powrie will discuss how observed performance and behavioural mechanisms are used to set suitable boundary conditions and materials parameters, to achieve resilience affordably.