Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

Reg Souleyrette, professor in transportation engineering and the Gerald and Audrey Olson Professor of Civil Engineering, traveled to various cities in Italy and Malta in July as part of his professional activities. In Italy, he met with faculty, department heads, deans, and the president of the University of Pisa to develop a plan for transportation research and education programs. He helped create a memorandum of understanding between Iowa State and the University of Pisa that will allow for collaboration on research projects and facilitate the teaching of short courses at both universities. This partnership could potentially lead to faculty and student exchanges in the future.

Also while in Italy, Souleyrette explored the cities of Lucca and Florence to see ancient structures such as bridges and cathedrals, as well as art.

In Malta, Souleyrette presented a research paper at the Wessex Institute of Technology’s Conference on Environmental Risk and visited the ancient city of M’Dina, coastal fortifications, and cathedrals. He also experienced driving on the left side of the road—which he says heightened his awareness of road design for new drivers and older drivers who may have slower reaction times.

“I drove on the left side for the second time in my life, and almost got killed!” Souleyrette says.

Souleyrette also adds that he experienced great hospitality, particularly by University of Pisa Professor Antonio Pratelli and his family. “Previously, Professor Pratelli had hosted one of our PhD students, Hillary Isebrands, who visited Tuscany and several other regions in Europe to collect data on novel highway designs,” he says.

The trip was partially supported by funds from the Gerald and Audrey Olson Professorship in Civil Engineering and the University of Pisa.