Edna Lizeth Ardila Montilla has been a civil engineer from the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) for nine years. Since then, she has carved out a successful professional career marked by significant accolades.
As part of this journey, Ardila Montilla was honored with the ISSMGE Outstanding Public Relations Award, one of nine awards presented by the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), considered one of the highest honors in this discipline worldwide.
The award was presented during the 21st International Congress on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, held in Vienna, Austria, and recognizes the exceptional contributions of individuals or organizations that promote geotechnical engineering and highlight its impact on society.
Ardila Montilla received the award alongside her colleagues Francisca Lezana and Jorge Andrés Arriagada Triana, with whom she volunteers to lead the ISSMGE’s outreach and social media strategy for South America and the Caribbean.
Thanks to this initiative, the team has established a regional platform that publicizes the activities, research, events, and achievements of geotechnical societies in Latin America, thereby strengthening collaboration among professionals, students, and institutions.
“A key role in creating the ISSMGE’s social media platform for South America, actively promoting the activities, events, initiatives, and achievements of multiple member societies in Latin America,” as recognized in the official statement of recognition. The team served as an “active, inclusive, and visible” communication channel that has significantly strengthened regional integration.
A Story Forged at the UIS
Edna Lizeth was born in Sogamoso (Boyacá) and raised in Duitama. She arrived in Bucaramanga in 2012 to fulfill the dream she’d had since childhood: to study civil engineering at the Industrial University of Santander.
During her studies, she stood out for her academic excellence, a distinction that earned her tuition discounts on several occasions. She was also a beneficiary of the Combo Saludable program, worked as a teaching assistant for the Statics course, and participated in the university’s international exchange program.
Thanks to this program, in 2016 she completed her final year of study and wrote her thesis at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. Subsequently, in March 2017, she earned her degree in civil engineering with the distinction of Cum Laude, an honor awarded for her outstanding academic performance.
“I love the UIS and am immensely grateful for everything it has given me,” says the graduate as she reflects on the institution that marked the beginning of her professional career.
Proyección internacional
Tras graduarse, Ardila Montilla trabajó durante dos años en la Concesión Vial ABP, en Bucaramanga, antes de iniciar su proceso de formación internacional.
Realizó una maestría en Gestión y Operaciones de Infraestructuras Civiles en la Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña y, posteriormente, se radicó en Brasil, donde obtuvo una segunda maestría en Geotecnia en la Universidad de São Paulo.
Su experiencia profesional incluye su paso por la empresa FONNTES Geotécnica y, actualmente, se desempeña como coordinadora técnica para Suramérica en la multinacional alemana HUESKER, compañía especializada en soluciones con geosintéticos para proyectos de infraestructura.
Un reconocimiento que visibiliza a Latinoamérica
La geotecnia es una rama especializada de la ingeniería Civil dedicada al estudio del comportamiento de los suelos y las rocas para el desarrollo seguro de obras como túneles, represas, cimentaciones y otras infraestructuras estratégicas.
En este contexto, el reconocimiento otorgado por la ISSMGE adquiere un significado especial al destacar el trabajo colaborativo de profesionales latinoamericanos que buscan posicionar el conocimiento generado en la región y fortalecer los vínculos entre la comunidad geotécnica.
Para Edna Lizeth, este premio representa el resultado de un esfuerzo desarrollado con vocación de servicio y compromiso con la comunidad científica, demostrando que la divulgación del conocimiento también contribuye al crecimiento de la ingeniería y al desarrollo de la sociedad.
