Soong to Receive National Recognition from ASCE

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Tsu-Teh Soong, Ph.D., Samuel P. Capen Professor of Engineering Science in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering in the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, has been named recipient of the 2002 Nathan M. Newmark Medal from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Soong, who was a co-principal investigator of the National Science Foundation grants that established the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research in 1986 and the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research in 1997, will receive the prestigious award at the 15th Engineering Mechanics Division Conference, to be held June 2-5 in New York.

The Newmark Medal is given to an ASCE member whose outstanding contributions in structural mechanics have substantially strengthened the scientific base of structural engineering.

Soong was cited "for his pioneering work, innovations and leadership in the theory and applications of structural control systems in civil infrastructure facilities."

He has conducted his research in the area of engineering structural dynamics, reliability and control. His recent work has focused on the development of passive and active control systems for protecting structures against potential damage due to large environmental forces, such as earthquakes, strong winds and large waves.

A unique aspect of Soong's research in protective systems is that it spans the entire spectrum, from conceptualization, modeling analysis and experimental verification in the laboratory and in the field to implementation in actual structures. His work has led to the development of these systems for actual applications in the United States, Japan and China.

Soong is the author or co-author of eight books and some 240 publications. He twice has received the Senior U.S. Scientist Award -- the Humboldt Prize -- from the Humboldt Foundation, as well as the Norman Medal from the ASCE.

A graduate of the University of Dayton, he earned master's and doctoral degrees in engineering science from Purdue University.

He is a resident of East Amherst.