Professor Anne S. Kiremidjian, who has revolutionised how we understand and mitigate seismic risks, will receive her honorary doctorate at Aarhus University’s annual celebration on 13 September 2024. 

“Throughout my career, I have always focused on my work without seeking accolades. Receiving this honour is both humbling and deeply meaningful to me, and I will cherish it for the rest of my life,” says Professor Anne S. Kiremidjian.

Ms. Kiremidjian graduated with a Master’s in Structural Engineering from Stanford University in 1973 and went on to become the first woman at Stanford to gain a PhD in Structural Engineering in 1977. In 1991, she became the university's first female professor of Civil Engineering.

Throughout her research career, she has focused on earthquake protection and seismic mapping, and she was the driving force behind development of the first probability-based seismic map for California, which set a precedent for seismic design standards across the globe.

She subsequently developed seismic maps for several Central American countries and influenced earthquake-proof designs of critical facilities in the region. Her research has helped protect societies all over the world and has been leading within earthquake protection and the health monitoring of structures.

"I met Anne Kiremidjian more than 15 years ago during a visit to Stanford, and ever since then we've collaborated on a number of shared interests, which among other things has resulted in several scientific publications over the years. Her academic achievements speak for themselves, but the fact that she was the first ever female professor of Civil Engineering at Stanford speaks for her determination to break through the glass ceilings of her time. She’s a truly inspiring person," says Professor Christos Georgakis from the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at Aarhus University.

Anne S. Kiremidjian and Christos Georgakis have had a very productive collaboration for more than 15 years, which has resulted in lectures, several influential articles, and study visits abroad for students in Denmark and the United States.

“One of our most exciting projects involved studying ice accretion and mass detection on the cables of cable-stayed bridges. Ice formation on cabled structures is a significant issue in many parts of the world. We demployed advanced AI techniques to detect ice formation and accurately measure the accumulated ice mass. These initial findings have led to further research and development by Professor Georgakis' and my teams, promising to advance our understanding and mitigation of this critical problem,” Kiremidjian says.

She has also been an external, independent evaluator of the department and has thereby contributed to its ongoing development.

"It means a lot to me that Anne receives this honorary doctorate at Aarhus University. She’s incredibly intelligent, a very good person, and she’s been a huge source of inspiration to me during my career. The title of honorary doctor is a fitting tribute to her pioneering influence on the entire field of structural engineering research. So, I extend my warmest congratulations to her on receiving the title," adds Christos Georgakis.

The honorary doctorates will be awarded on 13 September at the university's annual celebration. Each year, Aarhus University confers honorary doctorates on researchers from institutions that Aarhus University collaborates with.

These collaborations include research, teaching and professional networks, and contribute to establishing strong links between Aarhus University and cutting-edge international research

Contact

Jesper Bruun
Journalist
Mail: bruun@au.dk
Tel.: +4542404140

Professor Christos Georgakis
Aarhus University, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering
Mail: cg@cae.au.dk
Tel.: +4551157478