Beck Award Recipients

This series of Multidisciplinary Conferences on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst™ was founded in 1984 by Dr. Barry F. Beck, who was then Director of the Florida Sinkhole Research Institute at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Barry continued to organize and lead this conference series while serving as Vice-President for Karst and Chief of Operations for the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, office of P.E. LaMoreaux & Associates, Inc. (PELA).

Barry was the primary force behind the first 11 "sinkhole conferences". In 2009, a stroke interrupted his planning for the 12th conference in January 2011, and medical complications from that stroke ultimately claimed his life in November 2011. This memorial page celebrates Barry's life and the legacy he left for those who live and work in karst. It also introduces him to those who never had the pleasure to know him.

The Barry F. Beck Sinkhole Conference Student Support Fund has been established in his memory. Click here to apply for the student support fund.

2023 Beck Award Recipients

2023 Beck Award Recipients

(Image available on original website)

2020 Beck Award Recipients

2020 Beck Student Scholars

(Image available on original website)

2018 Beck Award Recipients

Joshua Benton

Northern Virginia Community College – U.S.A.

Emily Bausher

West Virginia University – U.S.A.

Yong Je Kim

University of Central Florida – U.S.A.

Ryan Shamet

University of Central Florida – U.S.A.

Mohammad Shokri

University of Central Florida – U.S.A.

Moataz Hesham Ali Soliman

University of Central Florida – U.S.A.

2015 Beck Award Recipients

Laurentiu Artugyan

West University of Timisoara - Romania

Tamsin Brittany Green

University of Leeds - England, UK

Caren Raedts

University of Western Ontario - Canada

John Wall

North Carolina State University - U.S.A.

2013 Beck Award Recipients

Dr. Marco Vattano, PhD (MSc Student)

Department of Earth and Sea Sciences, University of Palermo