Natural hazards and risks
Understanding geological and meteorological hazards, multi-hazards, and developing ways to mitigate disaster. Risk and uncertainty quantification and communication, catastrophe modelling.
We investigate earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, landslide, avalanche, heatwave, coldwave, windstorm, hurricane, flood, extreme weather and multi-hazards, collecting primary data from the natural environment, quantifying hazard, vulnerability, risk and uncertainty, and modelling multi-hazard risk. We explore cascading effects to people and the environment, risk perception and effective risk communication. We have made advances in scientific understanding and modelling approaches of various natural hazards and innovative social vulnerability functions for catastrophe modelling. We create innovative insights, products and services for use in industry and academia, influence UK hazard policy, provide expert advice and analysis for media and partners, and support international scientific discourse through leadership roles, collaborations and global risk reduction efforts.
Projects
Imagining coastlines
Exploring future coastlines through art and geology to inspire sustainability action and make earth science more accessible to diverse communities.
10 Sep 2025
Disasters Avoided
'Disasters Avoided' showcases real‑world examples, using Earth observations to highlight strategies that tackle root causes before crises occur.
09 Sep 2025
ENFRAG: ENhancing state-dependent FRAGility through experimentally validated energy-based approaches
An eighteen-month project that aims at advancing state-dependent earthquake fragility assessment methodologies.
01 Feb 2024
View a full list of ongoing and completed research projects undertaken in the Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction.