Impact of Young Engineers in Recent Earthquake Analysis

Synopsis

For the first event held by the SECED Young Members, we aim to highlight the role of young researchers and professionals in the series of devastating earthquakes from 2015-2016, specifically those in Italy, Japan, Ecuador and Nepal. Our members have used new equipment and techniques to improve the impact of earthquake reconnaissance as well as investigating new aspects of earthquake damage such as social and economic. After the evening talk, there will be a networking event in the ICE open to all (with a free drink served in the ICE bar).

About the speakers

Grace Cambell is working at the architecture/engineering practice ARUP in London. She joined the geotechnics group in 2016 after completing her PhD at Cambridge University which focussed on active tectonics and earthquake hazard in Central Asia. In particular, her research involved use of high-resolution satellite imagery, digital topography and field work to identify and characterise the seismic hazard posed by previously unknown active faults in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Grace was part of the April 2016 EEFIT mission to Kumamoto, Japan.

Fiona Hughes is a PhD student within the Geotechnical and Environment Research Group at the University of Cambridge. Fiona is using dynamic centrifuge modelling to investigate whether basement storeys can be used to reduce liquefaction induced settlement of structures. She was part of the 2016 EEFIT reconnaissance mission to Muisne, Ecuador. In addition, Fiona is currently Chair of the Cambridge University Geotechnical Society.

Valentina Putrino is a second-year PhD Student at University College London, working on Multi-hazard Vulnerability of Cultural Heritage Assets. She has a background in Architecture and an MSc in Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management. Her interest and the main topic of her studies are un-reinforced masonry structures subjected to multiple sources of natural hazard such as earthquake, flood and wind. She has worked on similar project to assess the vulnerability of priority buildings in Philippines, and she also took part to the recent EEFIT Mission in Central Italy 2016.

Harriette Stone is a chartered civil engineer working at UCL as a research engineer and as a consultant at the World Bank. Her interests lie in the exposure and vulnerability components of seismic risk modelling which has led her to work extensively throughout Central America and the Caribbean. She was recently awarded the 2017 ICE London Emerging Engineers Award and has been nominated for the 2017 ICE James Rennie Medal. She previous worked as a structural engineer at Arup. She took part in the 2016 EEFIT mission to Ecuador.

Sarah Tallett-Williams is a graduate geotechnical engineer working at Atkins, having completed her PhD research at Imperial College London. Her research focussed on seismic site characterisation and probabilistic assessment of shear wave profiles, winning the Worshipful Company of Paviour and Santander Scholarships. She has had experience working internationally with the El Salvador Project and took part in the 2015 EEFIT mission to Nepal. Her findings during this mission have been published in Earthquake Bulletin.

Further information

This evening meeting is organised by SECED and chaired by Mark Scorer (Atkins). Non-members of the society are welcome to attend. Attendance at this meeting is free. Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Tea and biscuits will be served from 5.30pm - 6pm. Please note that there will be a networking event after the meeting, with a free drink served in the ICE bar. For further information, please contact Katherine Coldwell (tel. 020 7665 2238).

Click here to download the event flyer.