Prof. David M. Potts

Professor Potts obtained a B.Sc from Kings College London, a Ph.D from Cambridge University and a D.Sc. from London University. He is a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the City and Guilds of London and of the Royal Academy of Engineers. He presented the 42^nd Rankine lecture.  He has been author and co-author of more than 450 technical publications and has received numerous awards for his research. He has served on many editorial boards and international committees and advisory panels. He was co-editor of the international journal Computers and Geotechnics from 2011 to 2013 and honorary editor of Geotechnique from 2017 to 2020. Before joining the academic staff at Imperial College he worked at the Shell Research Laboratories in Holland on both experimental and theoretical aspects related to offshore foundations. At Imperial College he has taught courses on the use of numerical analysis in geomechanics, slope stability, earth retaining structures and foundations to both undergraduate and post graduate classes. His research has involved the development and application of computer methods of analysis and, more particularly, the application of numerical analysis to the design of real geotechnical structures. He was Head of the Soil Mechanics Section from 1998 to 2006, Deputy head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from 2002 until 2012 and Head of the Geotechnics Section from 2012 to 214. He has consulted widely both within the UK and overseas. His position at Imperial College was sponsored by the Geotechnical Consulting Group, London from 2005 to 2022.