ASCE has honored D. Vaughan Griffiths, D.Sc., Ph.D., P.E., C.Eng., BC.GE, D.M.ASCE, with the 2026 Karl Terzaghi Lecture, as an author, for his highly cited publications and textbooks that have advanced the state of the art in slope stability analysis, risk assessment, and finite element modeling, and, as an educator for his development of short courses for practitioners through ASCE and worldwide. He was elected to Distinguished Membership in 2020.
Griffiths has attained a worldwide preeminent reputation in the fields of risk assessment and finite element modeling in geotechnical engineering. He has authored more than 300 papers and three textbooks that have been translated into several languages, including Chinese. His Geotechnique (1999) paper on earth-slope stability is among the most highly cited papers in geotechnical engineering literature. This work contributed to a transformation in the way slope stability analysis is performed, the strength reduction method now a standard component of proprietary codes used routinely in geotechnical practice. This development resulted in increased safety and economy of projects in civil engineering practice.
In a distinguished academic career of more than 40 years, first at the University of Manchester, UK and for the past 24 years at the Colorado School of Mines, Griffiths has maintained an admirable balance between research, educational leadership, and professional service. He is a highly sought after instructor of continuing education courses for practitioners in geotechnical engineering, with over 30 courses given for ASCE continuing education, in addition to offerings for professional groups worldwide, with recent presentations in Canada, Colombia, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, and China.
Griffiths has served ASCE in various leadership positions, including Colorado Section President, Region 7 Governor, and Region Director. He is the recipient of ASCE’s H. Bolton Seed Medal.
The Karl Terzaghi Lecture is awarded, upon the recommendation of the Board of Governors of the Geo-Institute, to a distinguished engineer who will deliver the Terzaghi Lecture at an appropriate meeting of the Society.
