New Delhi, [India], December 22, 2025: Indian geologist, science communicator, science educator, and researcher Zarin Ali has been recognised among the Top-5 paper presenters at the International Engineering Geology Conference (EGCON 2025), held at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, from 1–3 December 2025.
Ali received the recognition for her research paper titled “Depth-Resolved Soil Anisotropy and Soil Variability: A Case Study from Delhi,” which examines how soil characteristics change with depth—an insight critical to foundation safety, urban infrastructure planning, and environmental risk assessment in densely populated cities.
Through her work, Ali highlights the importance of depth-specific soil understanding in engineering decision-making, particularly in rapidly urbanising regions such as Delhi, where subsurface conditions directly influence long-term structural resilience.
The Top-5 Paper Presenter recognition was awarded following evaluation by an expert jury, which assessed submissions on scientific rigour, originality, real-world relevance, and clarity of communication.
Commenting on the achievement, Zarin Ali said:
“Understanding how soil behaves at different depths is fundamental to creating safe and resilient urban infrastructure. Engineering outcomes depend directly on the quality of geological insight beneath the surface.”
EGCON 2025, a three-day International Green Conference on Engineering Geology and the Environment, was jointly organised by the Indian Society of Engineering Geology (ISEG) and the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG), and brought together experts from India and across the globe.
The conference marked 60 years of Engineering Geology in India and placed a strong emphasis on research excellence, youth participation, women in engineering geology, and international scientific collaboration areas where Ali’s work and outreach continue to contribute meaningfully.
