We proudly congratulate Associate Professor Dr. Idil Akin and her colleagues for receiving the prestigious Thomas A. Middlebrooks Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). This distinguished award honors their outstanding research on how wildfires impact soil properties and slope stability.
Their award winning paper, “Changes in Soil Properties over Time after a Wildfire and Implications to Slope Stability”, provides critical insight into the evolving geotechnical conditions of post-wildfire landscapes. Focusing on the 2019 Williams Flats Fire, the study examines how changes in soil properties over time influence slope stability and increase the risk of landslides. This impactful research deepens our understanding of fire-affected hillslope dynamics and contributes to more effective hazard mitigation strategies.
This recognition reflects the team’s dedication to advancing geotechnical engineering and addressing complex, real-world challenges through impactful, applied research. Congratulations to Dr. Akin and the entire research team on this well-deserved achievement!
Click here to read Dr. Akin’s Award Winning Paper (PDF Version).