Professional Achievement Citation in Engineering
College of Engineering
Established in 1968 to recognize superior technical or professional accomplishments in research, development, administration, education, and other engineering activities. The citation recognizes alumni/alumnae eminently known for their professional competence and creativity.

Eiichi Watanabe

MS Civil Engineering ’68
PhD Civil Engineering ’69
Ibaraki City, Osaka, Japan

Eiichi Watanabe is professor emeritus at Kyoto University (Japan) and the chairperson of the board of directors at the Regional Planning Institute in Osaka, Japan. He completed undergraduate and graduate studies at Kyoto University in 1964 and 1966, respectively, before earning a pair of degrees from Iowa State as a Fulbright grantee. He served as a vice president of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers from 2004-2005 and is currently serving as a vice president of the International Association of Bridge Maintenance and Safety. He is a member of the board of directors for the Japanese Society of Steel Construction, and he is chairman of bridge asset management for Aomori Prefecture and for the City of Osaka. A member of European Academy of Sciences, Watanabe served as a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore in 2006. He has authored more than 450 scientific publications, as well as 30 books.

Watanabe returned to Kyoto in 1969 after receiving his Ph.D. from Iowa State; about 15 years later, he was asked to write his second doctoral dissertation in order to be nominated as a full professor of Kyoto University.