Bernard Amadei

University of Colorado
Dept. of Civil, Environmental and
Architectural Engineering, 428 UCB
Boulder CO 80209-0428
Tel: 303-492-7734, Cell: 303-929-8167
E-mail: amadei@colorado.edu
Skype VoIP: bamadei


Biographical Sketch

Bernard Amadei is Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder. His main research and teaching interests have initially been in rock mechanics and engineering geology. He obtained his MaSc. degree in Civil Engineering in 1979 from the University of Toronto and his Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering in 1982 from the University of California, Berkeley. He was recently elected a Member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Prof. Amadei has been extremely active in publishing papers in both scientific journals and professional meetings. He has co-authored two books and approximately 150 technical papers. His research at the University of Colorado has been multidisciplinary. He has also provided consulting services to various engineering companies and organizations around the world.

Prof. Amadei’s current interests cover the topics of sustainability and international development. At the University of Colorado at Boulder, Prof. Amadei directs a new program in Engineering for Developing Communities (www.edc-cu.org). Its overall mission is to educate globally responsible engineering students and professionals who can offer sustainable and appropriate solutions to the endemic problems faced by developing communities worldwide.

Prof. Amadei is also the Founding President of Engineers Without Borders - USA (www.ewb-usa.org) and co-founder of Engineers Without Borders-International (www.ewb-international.org). The mission of EWB-USA is to partner with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while involving and training internationally responsible engineering professionals and students.

Prof. Amadei’s goal is to promote sustainable development, appropriate technology, service learning, and system thinking in the curriculum and research of civil engineering programs at CU Boulder and other U.S. universities.

Honors and Awards

2002 Colorado Bank One Award for outstanding outreach community service;
2003 E-Achievement Award from E-Town;
2005 Nayudamma Award from the Nayudamma Center for Development Alternatives in Nellore, India;
2005 AAES Norm Augustine Award;
2005 Service Award for Professional Excellence from Rotary International;
2005 Hassib J. Sabbagh Award for Excellence in Engineering Construction (with EWB-USA) from the World Federation of Engineering Organizations;
2006 General Palmer Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado;
2006 Ralph Coats Roe Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers;
2007 Hoover Medal from ASCE, ASME, IEEE, AIME, and AIChE;
2007 Heinz Foundation Award for the Environment (co-recipient);
2008 Drexel University College of Engineering’s Engineer of the Year;
2008 Member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Prof. Amadei's work has been featured on National Public Radio, PBS NewsHour, and TIME (US). Prof. Amadei  is working on a new book entitled “Engineering With Soul”.

Selected Interviews and Articles

Rocky Mountain News article, a short video, and slide show (2007) about Nepal project
Earth and Sky Audio (September 20, 2007)
NPR, Colorado Matters Interview (Oct. 1, 2007)
Heinz Award Acceptance Speech and Video (October 22, 2007)
TIME Magazine (The Power of One): Blueprint Brigade (December 10, 2007)
PBS OnLine NewsHour (PBS): Engineers Take Expertise Overseas (December 7, 2007)
Seattle Times: Engineers as Force for Change (March 31, 2008)