Sadly, yet another well qualified engineering academic blew through my town and others in Canada and the U.S. of A., lectured on an important and relevant topic then rode off into the sunset. (Ref. 1)
But, if his dismissive comments at the end of his lecture about cost, and his very long, thick list of credentials and awards are any indication – I got tired of reading them and stopped – he’s had no practical field experience. I mean the kind of experience where you “get your hands dirty and mud on your boots” on one geotechnical site investigation after another. (Ref. 2)
(Academic: Very learned but inexperienced in practical matters. Reference Merriam-Webster dictionary)
His lecture was on a good and relevant topic in foundation engineering – better foundation construction in bad foundation soils – but a bit theoretical, thick and long for an hour. Practical and economic? I don’t know. He was quite dismissive when I asked about the cost of what he was proposing. He didn’t investigate the cost – said quickly and in a way to suggest it wasn’t of interest to him.
There’s no question I will read and study his talk when I get a copy because it was relevant to geotechnical and foundation engineering. I’ll also look at the cost of what he was proposing. But I’m certain he lost a lot of listeners with his talk, and readers with his long CV.
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So, why is this relevant to the life and practice of civil litigation lawyers and insurance claims’ managers? Because, like I said in a previous blog (Ref. 1), you got to look closely at the practical experience of the expert you retain to investigate the cause of an accident or failure in the built environment. You can’t stop and be happy at their impressive academic qualifications sans practical experience. Rebuttal experts have a field day with this kind of background.
References
1.0 Beware the Expert with a Lot of Degrees and just a little field experience, or none at all. Posted April 29, 2026
2.0 Billam, John, Phd, Lecturer in geotechnical engineering, Birmingham University, England 1974. Dr. Billiam’s comment back then that Canadian engineers are noted for going in the field and getting their hands dirty and mud on their boots.
3.0 The Uncertainty of the Expert. Posted March 31, 2026
Beware the expert with a lot of degrees and just a little field experience, or none at all
I’ve been troubled lately by the impressive academic credentials of some people. And how that’s all that is sometimes seen when an expert is needed to investigate an accident or failure in the built environment. April 29, 2026
Billam, John, Phd, Lecturer in geotechnical engineering, Birmingham University, England 1974. Dr. Billiam’s comment back then that Canadian engineers are noted for going in the field and getting their hands dirty and mud on their boots.
The Uncertainty of the Expert
“The Uncertainty of the Expert”, caught my eye recently. It’s the title of a chapter in a book entitled “How Doctors Think”. (Ref. 1) It reminded me of the blogs I’ve posted on “The softness of science”. (Refs 2 and 3)