For his experiences and contributions in geological sciences, NETL’s Hema Siriwardane, Ph.D., was recently inducted as Diplomate of Geotechnical Engineering in the Academy of Geo-Professionals. Hema’s aspiration is to use his experience in geological sciences to realize success in geological carbon storage projects.

Being inducted as a Diplomate of Geo-Professionals recognizes geotechnical engineers who have attained advanced expertise and experience, advanced education, and a specialized body of knowledge in geotechnical engineering. 

“I am honored to be a member of the NETL family and to represent DOE in the work related to carbon storage in geological formations, especially at this important time of nation’s aggressive decarbonization opportunities and challenges,” Siriwardane said. “Being inducted to the Academy of Geo-Professionals as a Diplomate of Geotechnical Engineering and joining the company of some of the best and brightest minds, is a great honor.”

In addition to his role as senior technical advisor in the NETL’s Geological and Environmental Systems Directorate, Siriwardane also serves as technical director for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Science-informed Machine Learning for Accelerating Real-Time (SMART) Decisions in Subsurface Applications initiative.

The DOE SMART Initiative is a multi-year, multi-organizational effort that is transforming the understanding of the subsurface through real-time visualization, forecasting, and virtual learning.

Phase 1 of the SMART Initiative was funded by the DOE’s Carbon Storage and Upstream Oil & Gas Programs, but the phase 2 is presently BIL-funded (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) to transform how people interact with subsurface data, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of field-scale carbon storage and unconventional oil and gas operations, respectively, by application of science-based machine learning and data analytics.

The SMART team engages with university, industry and national lab partners, such as NETL, to build off data collected from field laboratories and regional partnerships that have been part of the Carbon Storage and Upstream Oil & Gas Programs during the past 15 years. The SMART team will continue to collaborate with other Program efforts — especially Regional Initiatives and field laboratories — to collect and analyze data and share insights.

Founded in 2008, the Academy of Geo-Professionals’ mission is to provide excellence in leadership by elevating the professional practice of geotechnical engineering through advanced certification, continuing education, and ethical practice. Siriwardane is joining more than 450 engineers that have been named Diplomate in Geo-Profession since its inception.

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that drives innovation and delivers technological solutions for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous energy future. By leveraging its world-class talent and research facilities, NETL is ensuring affordable, abundant and reliable energy that drives a robust economy and national security, while developing technologies to manage carbon across the full life cycle, enabling environmental sustainability for all Americans.