Its purpose was to promote technical advances and research activities in the field of geotechnical engineering.
From the very outset, its role has been expanding as modern society has placed ever greater demands on it to provide a wide range of services.
Prof. Masami Fukuoka served as the President of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering from 1977 to 1981.
Prof. Kenji Ishihara also served as the President of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering for the period 1997–2001.
In addition, Prof. Ishihara gave the 33rd Rankine Lecture of the British Geotechnical Society at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine on 24 March 1993.