Professor Manchao He, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering at the China University of Mining and Technology in Beijing, will be the opening keynote speaker at LARMS 2026. His lecture is titled "Rock Mechanics Challenges in the Himalayas".

The presentation will trace the evolution of rock mechanics from its origins in the European Alps — where well-established theoretical and technical systems, such as NATM and TBM, were developed in the second half of the 20th century — to the challenges faced in large-scale engineering projects carried out in the Himalayan and Hengduan mountains of China from the late 20th century onwards.

These regions feature extreme geological conditions, including high in-situ stress, complex tectonics, strong seismicity, and demanding environments, which posed unprecedented challenges to the field, such as water and mud inrushes, large deformations in deep soft rock, intense rockbursts, and active fault dislocation.

In response to these challenges, Chinese researchers have made significant breakthroughs in theory, equipment, and technology, gradually establishing a new rock mechanics system tailored to the extreme conditions of the Himalayas — elevating the field to a new level beyond the traditional Alps-based system.

LARMS 2026 will be held from August 25 to 28, 2026, in Brasília, Brazil, alongside the XXII Cobramseg, under the theme "Rock Mechanics for a Sustainable Future: Innovation in Mining, Energy and Infrastructure". The event is organised by CBMR, in partnership with ABMS and the ISRM National Group of Brazil.

Professor Manchao He recorded a special invitation for the technical and scientific community. Watch the video:

More information: https://larms2026.com/#home