Concrete is everywhere—from sidewalks to skyscrapers—but it comes with a heavy environmental cost. Cement production alone accounts for a large share of global carbon emissions. At UC Berkeley, the Science of Cementitious Materials group (SCiM) is taking on that challenge.
Join us for the 9th Annual Geotechnical Research Symposium on Friday, November 14th, from 1–5 PM at Banatao Auditorium, UC Berkeley. The event will feature presentations and posters showcasing the latest PhD and Postdoctoral research in Geotechnical Engineering.
This year’s industry roundtable, “Analyzing Risk in Geotechnical Engineering,” will explore the evolving role of risk analysis in advancing geotechnical practice.
CEE Professor Kenichi Soga has co-authored the newly released Fundamentals of Soil Behavior, Fourth Edition (Wiley) with the late Professor Emeritus James K. Mitchell and Professor Catherine O’Sullivan of Imperial College London, a former PhD student in Berkeley CEE.
On Friday, October 3rd, Berkeley Engineering hosted a special Aerospace Seminar featuring Captain Jim DiMatteo (BS ’85), legendary U.S. Navy pilot and distinguished Berkeley CEE alumnus. Captain DiMatteo, renowned in military aviation circles, spoke from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m in the Grimes Engineering Center.
After graduating from Cal, Jim DiMatteo built a remarkable 27-year career as a U.S. Naval Aviator, becoming the first to command both TOPGUN Adversary Squadrons. After retiring as a Captain, he directed the Red Bull Air Races for 14 years, led the Breitling Jet Team’s U.S. tour, and ran the world’s largest airshow, Oshkosh AirVenture.
Today, he still flies the F-5 Advanced Tiger with Tactical Air Support, providing adversary training for Navy and Air Force pilots. With more TOPGUN Adversary flight time than anyone in history, Jim was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame in 2018 and has earned numerous honors, including F-14 Fighter Pilot of the Year, Navy Adversary Pilot of the Year, and the U.K.’s prestigious Britannia Award.
NOVEMBER 2025
Featuring Vice Provost Lisa García Bedolla
Monday, November 3 • 12:00 PM • Jarvis Auditorium, Grimes Engineering Center
Join us for the next seminar in the Collective for Inclusive Engineering Series, featuring Lisa García Bedolla, Berkeley’s Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Hitchcock Dean of the Graduate Division, and Chancellor’s Professor of Education.
Our former colleague, Juan Pestana, passed on the night of September 16, 2025 in Lexington, Massachusetts. His friends in the Geosystem Engineering Program were informed by his daughter Maria. We are shocked and saddened by his passing.
Juan was full of life and devoted to the ideals, tradition, and excellence of Berkeley. He returned to campus often after retiring from Berkeley to participate in events. While visiting us he shared the joy of his work at Geosyntec Consultants. Juan was a brilliant engineer.
