The main meetings of the ISRM are the four-yearly Congresses. The 1st ISRM Congress was held in Lisbon, Portugal in 1966 and, following a global path through Belgrade, Denver, Montreux, Melbourne, Montreal, Aachen, Tokyo, Paris, and Sandton in South Africa, the 11th ISRM Congress was once again held in Lisbon, this time in July 2007. The Congress was not only a significant event for the ISRM but also for me personally: at the end of the Congress and following the outgoing ISRM President, Nielen van der Merwe, I became the new ISRM President for the years 2007-2011.

After a lifetime working in the manifold aspects of rock mechanics and rock engineering, it is indeed an honour to be elected to this role and I will do everything that I can to promote the ISRM and to continue the modernisation process pursued by Nielen and the outgoing Board over the last four years. To support me, there are now new representatives on the ISRM Board which consists of six Vice-Presidents representing the six geographical regions plus two Vice-Presidents at Large. All of us are supported by Luis Lamas of the LNEC in Lisbon who continues as the ISRM Secretary-General. There are currently 48 constituent member nations of the ISRM with a total of over 5000 members.

When I began studying for a PhD in rock mechanics at the University of Minnesota in the 1960s, we had a rather limited research toolkit and the links with practical rock engineering design were somewhat indistinct. However, the developments over the intervening decades have led to the present exciting times for us in rock mechanics. Across the globe, there is an increasing requirement for materials derived from the Earth, for energy projects involving tunnels and caverns, and for underground space for other purposes. We now have further theoretical developments, servo-controlled rock testing facilities, superb computer facilities for numerical simulation and personal communication, and many underground research laboratories. Moreover, there is now full realisation that the rock characterisation, design modelling, construction, and feedback from in situ measurements should be considered as one integrated process.

Within this context, therefore, it has become easier to achieve the objectives and purposes of the ISRM, i.e.,
• to encourage international collaboration and exchange of ideas and information between Rock Mechanics practitioners,
• to encourage teaching, research, and advancement of knowledge in Rock Mechanics,
• to promote high standards of professional practice among rock engineers so that civil, mining and petroleum engineering works might be safer, more economic and less disruptive to the environment.

With reference to the first bullet point, please note all the conferences that are planned for the years ahead, especially the International ISRM Symposia that are already confirmed: the 5th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium (ARMS) to be held on 24-26 November 2008 in Tehran, Iran; the 2nd SINOROCK Symposium to be held on 19-22 May 2009 in Hong Kong, China; and the next ISRM Congress to be held on 16-21 October 2011 in Beijing, China.

With the support of the new ISRM Board, I will be active in enhancing the utility of this website, continuing the work of the ISRM Commissions, promoting links with our sister Societies, encouraging rock mechanics teaching and research, and increasing the benefits to ISRM members. I look forward to working with you all.

John A. Hudson
Emeritus Professor, Imperial College, UK
john.a.hudson@gmail.com