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Many practising engineers will have used one or more editions of "A Geology for Engineers" written by Dr. Francis Blyth, first published in 1942 and now in its 7th Edition. Dr. Blyth was responsible for the subject for many years and provided the early diploma courses in Engineering Geology. In 1964, under the guidance of the then Dr. John Knill (now Sir John Knill), the Masters course in Engineering Geology was initiated. It was the first such course in the UK and since starting over 430 geologists and engineers from around the world have attended. We keep in contact with them via the alumnus associations in the College and especially through our own Herbert Lapworth Club. In 1996 Engineering Geology transferred from the then Department of Geology to the Department of Civil Engineering as part of a College wide rationalisation of its geotechnical subjects. Engineering Geology is now the same Department as Soil Mechanics, Engineering Seismology, Environmental and Water Resource Engineering, and the Centre for Environmental Control and Waste Management. Close contacts exist with the Earth Science Section of the recently formed Department of Earth Science and Engineering, and permanent staff for teaching the MSc in Engineering Geology are provided by both Civil Engineering and Earth Sciences. Rocks and sediments are amongst nature's most complex composite materials and studies of their behaviour and properties is central to the Research in Engineering Geology. This is focused upon an understanding of the geological controls of geotechnical parameters. Engineering Geology at Imperial therefore provides the teaching and training required by industry and the opportunity to research basic aspects of material behaviour at a laboratory and field scale. |
The Lapworth Medal, funded by donations from the members of the Herbert Lapworth Club and presented by the Club to the College, to be awarded annually to meritorious student of Engineering Geology, normally on completion of the advanced course (also known as the MSc course) in that subject. Contents
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