« Dear Michael, it is my great pleasure to inform you that you have been selected to receive the 2019 JJ Mehta Award for outstanding contributions to the study of cohesive sediment dynamics at the upcoming INTERCOH 2019 meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. » These were the words with which Carl T. Friedrichs, Professor, Research Coordinator & Associate Director of CBNERR-VA at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, United States, announced the great news to our colleague Michael Fettweis.
The Mehta Award is a given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement in the theory or application of cohesive sediment transport in the marine or aquatic environment. The award, which carries a plaque and a financial prize, is named in the memory of Jayant J. Mehta (1916-1996) by his son Ashish J. Mehta. Jayant J. Mehta (MS, MIT, 1938) was a pioneer in the inception and growth of the petrochemical industry in India, contributing significantly to the country’s industrial expansion starting in the 1970s.”
The selection committee was especially impressed by Michael’s record of combining diverse field observations and innovative analyses to successfully characterize naturally complex cohesive sediment processes while recognizing and quantifying the inherent uncertainties involved. As an awardee, Michael was asked to present an extended keynote lecture during the conference.
The award was presented at the INTERCOH 2019 conference banquet on the evening of Tuesday October 15th, 2019.
Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition of your work, Michael!