The Fourth Biot Conference on Poromechanics will be held at Columbia University in 2009. Columbia University was the home for Maurice A. Biot during the period from 1937-1945. Maurice Biot, who was affiliated with the Department of Physics, had very close interaction with the colleagues in the Department of Civil Engineering, such as Prof. Raymond D. Mindlin.

The Fourth Biot Conference will also emphasize on the theories and applications of poromechanics to new and emerging fields, including life science, earth science, and new materials, in addition to the traditional areas of poromechanics such as geotechnical engineering, petroleum engineering, acoustics, etc.