The George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) has elected Ian Buckle, director of the University of Nevada, Reno's Center for Civil Engineering Earthquake Research to become the first president of the NEES Consortium.

&#8220I am honored to become the first president,&#8221 Buckle said. &#8220I look forward to steering the consortium through its early years.&#8221

In 1999 the National Science Foundation (NSF) launched the 15-year NEES program to carry out earthquake engineering research and obtain information vital for reducing the nation's vulnerability to catastrophic earthquakes. The NEES Consortium was established as a legal entity on Jan. 22 and has 501 members, including university professionals, research organizations, graduate students and government agencies.

&#8220This board will direct the future of NEES,&#8221 said Manos Maragakis, professor and chair of civil engineering. &#8220The president carries a lot of responsibility and prestige and it demonstrates the recognition of Ian's accomplishments. It does not surprise me that someone of his caliber and experience was elected.&#8221

Buckle served as deputy director for the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research at the University of Buffalo, N.Y., and as past deputy vice-chancellor for research at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He began his professorship at Nevada in 1999.

&#8220The fact that this program can compete on a national level and that Dr. Buckle has been elected is a great advertisement for the university,&#8221 Maragakis said. &#8220People must have trust in our program to select one of us to be president.&#8221

The multi-million dollar NEES project consists of two phases: a construction phase and an operation phase. The Louis-Wiener Large-Scale Structures Laboratory at the university is one of only 15 universities serving as equipment sites in the construction phase. The University of Nevada, Reno is the first site to finish installation and the laboratory is already using the new shake tables for research.

&#8220This success has been the result of outstanding teamwork,&#8221 Buckle said. &#8220I have 10 colleagues in the earthquake program here who are equally skilled in the field and without whom we would still be at the back of the pack. If there is credit to be given for my election it deserves to be shared equally amongst the team.&#8221

By Jennifer Sanzi, (775) 784-4941