The BOKU*-CQU Workshop on Geomechanics was successfully held on 7-9 June, 2022, aimed to promote international exchanges and cooperation among young scholars in geomechanics, and its theme was Geomechanics and Soft Computing. This workshop was presided over by Prof. Wu Wei from Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, BOKU, and Prof. Zhang Wengang, the associate chair of SCE, CQU.

*BOKU: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna

In the opening ceremony on 7th June, 2022, Prof. Zhang delivered a welcome speech, he introduced the workshop background and extended a warm welcome to the participants. Afterwards, Prof. Wu introduced the history, development, platform construction of BOKU with emphasis on the importance of the communication and cooperation between universities and scholars.

Prof. Ronaldo I.Borja from Stanford University, was on his sabbatical leave in BOKU, was invited to attend this workshop and conducted a lecture titled as “Failure in rocks: From breakage mechanics to phase-field modeling”. Other lecturers included BOKU representatives: the deputy director of Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Prof. Enrico Soranzo, Dr. Zhu Chengwei, Dr. Wang Shun, Dr. Wang Yunteng, Carlotta Guardiani, and CQU representatives: Prof. Zhang Wengang, Prof. Qin Changbin, Prof. Yang Haiqing, associate professor Wang Chenglong, associate professor Bao Ting from the Institute of Urban Underground Space, and Dr. Wu Hanran from Institute of Geotechnical Engineering. They launched a thorough and extensive exchange and discussion on the following topics: mechanism of geological hazards, numerical calculation and simulation analysis of geotechnical engineering, application of big data and artificial intelligence in geomechanics. The latest research achievements and engineering application technology were showed in the field of geomechanics in theoretical innovation and engineering practice.

This workshop was held through Zoom Meeting, with a total of 160 online participants. The majority of teachers and students actively participated in the workshop and conducted in-depth academic discussions.

In the end, Porf. Yang Haiqing, the director of Institute of Urban Underground Space, CQU, delivered the closing speech. He expressed a heartfelt thanks to the participants and the hope that BOKU and CQU would continue to strengthen cooperation in scientific research and personal training, deepen exchanges between staff and students, and make more contributions to the development of geomechaics.