The 12th ISRM International Congress on Rock Mechanics (ISRM 2011) was successfully held at the Beijing National Conference Center from October 18 to 21, 2011. This is also the first time this type of top event is held in China since the establishment of the International Society of Rock Mechanics (ISRM). The Congress was hosted by the International Society of Rock Mechanics, co-organized by the Chinese Society of Rock Mechanics and Engineering and the Society of Rock and Soil mechanics of Singapore. The Congress also gained support from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Housing and Rural-Urban Development, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Water Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), National Natural Science Foundation of China, Beijing Municipal People’s Government and China Association for Science and Technology (CAST). The theme of the Congress was “Harmonizing Development of Rock Mechanics and Environment”, which witnessed the presence of more than 1,000 experts and scholars from over 50 countries and regions specialized in the field of rock mechanics.

Prof. Feng Xiating, also the first Chinese elected to be President of ISRM, presided over the opening ceremony held on October 18. The opening was also attended by CAE Member Qian Qihu, also the Chairman of the Congress, Prof. Zhao Jian (Switzerland), Prof. John. A. Hudson, current ISRM President, Prof. Abdolhadi Ghazvinian, Vice President for the region of Asia, Prof. L. Lamas, Secretary-General of ISRM, Feng Zhenglin, Vice Minister of Transport, Lu Chunfang, Vice Minister of Railways, Zhang Qin, Party Secretary of CAST, among many others. Zhang Qin addressed the opening, and CAE President Zhou Ji, together with more than 30 other leaders from their respective organizations, sent congratulatory letters or telegrams to the Congress. A total of 11 CAE Members attended the Congress, namely, Sun Jun, Wang Sijing, Ge Xiurun, Liu Baochen, Zheng Yingren, Wang Mengshu, Song Zhenqi, Ma Jin, Gu Jincai, Cui Jinzhi and Yuan Liang.

During the four-day sessions, 15 academicians and experts delivered invited lectures. Among them, Prof. Ted Brown, former ISRM President, made a presentation entitled “50 Years of the ISRM and Associated Progress in Rock Mechanics”, in which he reviewed the vigorous development of both ISRM and the field of rock mechanics in the past 50 years; while Prof. John. A. Hudson, current ISRM President, made a presentation entitled “The Next 50 Years of the ISRM and Anticipated Future Progress in Rock Mechanics”, in which he predicted the prospects for development of both ISRM and rock mechanics for the next 50 years. In addition, CAE Member Qian Qihu, Chairman of the Congress, delivered a keynote presentation on “New Development of Rock Engineering and Technology in China”, in which he introduced the brilliant achievements of engineering technology in large-scale rock engineering construction. Also, Prof. Feng Xiating, the newly-elected President of ISRM, made a presentation entitled “New Rock Mechanics Development in China”, in which he gave an introduction to the development of China’s rock mechanics and rock dynamics, as well as major research achievements in these fields.

In parallel discussion sessions for different sub-topics, a total of over 200 specialists and scholars made presentations, covering a number of major issues in rock mechanics, which led to heated and fruitful exchanges of thoughts.

This Congress helped to provide a wonderful platform for experts from home and abroad, to discuss major issues and development prospects for rock mechanics and engineering technology, who also paid special attention to the development of rock mechanics as well as advancement of engineering technology in China, offering suggestions for further development. This Congress helped to propel innovation and development of China’s rock mechanics and engineering technology, and raised the level of international exchanges and cooperation for rock mechanics as well as engineering field in China. (By Xie Dongsheng, December 2011; translated by Liu Chang)