Join Dr Maximillian Van Wyk de Vries, Assistant Professor in Natural Hazards at the University of Cambridge, for an exploration of mountain disaster research through the lens of a devastating multihazard cascade that struck the Nepal–Tibet border in August 2026. Drawing on his fieldwork experience in the region, Dr Van Wyk de Vries will examine how geologists investigate complex mountain disasters and the challenges that remain in predicting and mitigating them.
The talk travels across global mountain systems—from Alaska's megatsunamis to Antarctic volcanoes—to consider how climate change, landscape evolution and infrastructure expansion are reshaping hazard patterns. Key themes include understanding baseline risk, anticipating future disasters, and recognising critical connections between different hazard types. Dr Van Wyk de Vries leads the Cambridge Complex and Multihazard Research Group and won the Geological Society's 2026 Early Career Geologist Award for his work on landslides, volcanoes, cryospheric hazards and their interactions.
Schedule
- 17:30–18:00: Reception with refreshments in the Lower Library
- 18:00–19:00: Public Lecture including Q&A
- 19:00–20:00: Drinks reception
