The IACMAG is the professional body for Computational Geotechnics and dates back to 1976. The Association recognises the significant contributions by individuals in research, and education in geomechanics through its awards. The award was presented at the Association's 14th biannual conference in Kyoto, Japan in September 2014.

Professor Pande joined the then Department of Civil Engineering in 1975 as a lecturer and progressed through the ranks to be awarded a 'personal' Chair in 1991. He became the Founding Editor of Computers & Geotechnocs - an International Journal published by Elsevier Science in 1985 which became one of the most prestigious Journals in the area of Computational Geomechanics. He stepped down as Chief Editor in 2010.

Professor Pande is currently the founder President of the International Centre for Computational Engineering (IC²E)  - a 'not for profit' organisation which is registered as an educational charity based in Rhodes, Greece. It aims to provide an international forum and network of highly acclaimed independent international experts in various methodologies of computational engineering, who provide their expertise for the benefit of academics, researchers and students.  It has recently received financial support from industry and research institutions for reporting on the state-of-the-art on a number of advanced topics.

IC2E has been instrumental in setting up a number of research collaborations between Universities and industry including one between Swansea's Department of Materials Engineering and the Korean Institute of Construction Technology (KICT) in South Korea on non-destructive testing of materials used in aviation industry through high resolution computer tomography.

On receiving the news of his award Professor Pande said “ I am delighted to receive this award. Research has, however, been my hobby for quite some time.  It was writing it up which was hard work.”  He expressed his gratitude to many colleagues at ZCCE and  Swansea University for providing him with continued facilities for research.  He said: “Skype technology is great.  It has allowed me to continue my un-finished research with co-workers in Canada, South Korea and China even so many years after my retirement.”

Professor Perumal Nithiarasu. Head of the Zienkiewicz Centre for Computational Engineering, College of Engineering said: “ I was very pleased when I received the news of  Professor Pande’s well deserved award. The University has benefitted hugely from Professor Pande’s experience. On behalf of the University’s Zienkiewicz Centre, I congratulate Gyan for this outstanding achievement. “    

Geomechanics is an interdisciplinary area that involves the study of natural and man-made systems with emphasis on the mechanics of various interacting phenomena. It comprises aspects of various engineering and scientific disciplines such as civil, mechanical, hydraulic, materials, and geological engineering and geophysics, with appropriate scientific foundations in mechanics and physics. Some of the specific subjects involved are: soil and rock mechanics, statics and dynamics of interacting structures and foundations, oil and fluid flow through porous media, environmental geotechnology, offshore and marine technology, geothermal energy and ice mechanics.

Professor Pande is currently travelling to China on an invitation from the Chinese Academy of Sciences to present a series of seminars at the National Institute of Rock & Soil Mechanics  at Wuhan, Hubei Province.(28 Oct. - 5 Nov. 2014).

• For more information about the Swansea University College of Engineering go to http://www.swansea.ac.uk/engineering

• For more information about the International Centre for Computational Engineering (IC²E) go to http://ic2e.org