Giovanni Barla, ۱۹۴۰-۲۰۱۹

It is with deep sadness that we inform all ISRM members that our colleague and friend Prof. Giovanni Barla passed away on ۱۷ November.

Giovanni was a very active member of our Society, former Vice President for Europe (۱۹۹۵-۱۹۹۹), ISRM Fellow (۲۰۱۳), Chairman of the ISRM Commission on Squeezing Rocks in Tunnels (۱۹۸۹-۱۹۹۹), Chairman of Eurock۹۶ and frequent keynote lecturer at ISRM conferences including at the ۱۴th ISRM Congress last September, among many other contributions.

Giovanni was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, former Professor of Rock Mechanics (until ۲۰۱۲) and Department Head (۲۰۰۳-۲۰۱۱) at the Politecnico di Torino, past President of the Italian Geotechnical Society (۱۹۹۷-۲۰۰۳), recipient of the IACMAG award for outstanding contributions, member of the Torino Academy of Sciences and a renowned international consultant. He was one of the most influential rock mechanics researchers of our times.

We will keep warm memories from him for his professional contributions and his friendship.

Our thoughts are with his wife and his close family, to whom we present our deepest condolences.