Report on the 15th Asian Regional Conference of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (ARC-15), Kathmandu, Nepal, 27–29 November 2025

Abstract

The 15th Asian Regional Conference of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (ARC-15) was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 27 to 29 November 2025 under the theme “Geological Engineering for Societal and Sustainable Development.” Jointly organized by the Nepal Society of Engineering Geology (NSEG) and the IAEG Bangladesh National Group (IBNG), the conference hosted more than 340 participants from over 25 countries representing academia, industry, governmental institutions, and students. While ARC-15 is an Asian regional conference, the program and participation reflected strong global engagement. A total of 217 scientific presentations were delivered, including 190 oral and 27 poster contributions. The conference also included keynote and invited lectures, parallel technical sessions, poster exhibitions, training workshops, Women in Engineering Geology (WEG) and Young Engineering Geologists (YEG) activities, and pre- and post-conference field excursions in Nepal and Bangladesh. This report summarizes the main components of ARC-15 and highlights key outcomes and lessons relevant to future regional and international conferences.