Teaching and research in engineering must take into account the needs of developing nations so that the differences between such nations and those that enjoy high standards of living may be minimized. In doing his share toward this goal, the civil engineer must plan, design, and manage complex technical systems and must understand the interrelationships that often constitute the key decision-making factors. He must also learn that he can accomplish all his goals only as a member of a team that will include engineers of other disciplines, architects, and, quite often, planners, economists, lawyers, and others.
Geotechnical engineers must realize that the ultimate purpose of their long educational process is the selection and design of foundations, and the prediction of the physical behavior of the foundation materials. The geotechnical engineer, and his teachers, must remember that sophisticated theories and techniques, and the computerized facilities that have made these techniques possible, have only one purpose, that of formulating a practical solution to a practical problem. They must never forget that these theories and techniques are only a tool, and not a goal in itself and for itself.
