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GEM Governing Board Meets in Pavia

GEM’s Summer Governing Board meeting was held on 26–27 June 2025 in Pavia. The agenda included partner presentations, project updates, and public sponsorship renewals. Four new members were also confirmed to GEM’s Advisory Board: Justin Ginnetti (IFRC), Finn Løvholt (NGI and Global Tsunami Model Association), Renato Solidum Jr. (Secretary, DOST Philippines), and Iain Stewart (University of Plymouth/Royal Scientific Society of Jordan), who was appointed Vice Chair. The group brings a valuable mix of science, governance, and risk expertise.

GEM concludes participation in EU METIS project

GEM wrapped up its role in the EU-funded METIS project this June. Coordinated by EDF under Horizon 2020 Euratom, METIS aimed to advance seismic risk assessment for nuclear facilities. GEM led enhancements to OpenQuake for hazard-to-risk modelling and supported workflows linking seismic hazard with probabilistic safety assessments. The project’s open methodologies are expected to benefit nuclear safety reviews across Europe. More at www.metis-h2020.eu.

GEM at Oasis Insight 2025 in London

GEM joined industry leaders at the Oasis Insight Conference, held 30 April – 1 May at Glaziers Hall, London. Vitor Silva spoke on emerging global risk modelling challenges, while Pratim Parash Kalita showcased GEM’s open tools and datasets at the exhibit booth. The event, hosted by Oasis and Lloyd’s Market Association, highlighted advances in open catastrophe modelling and cross-sector collaboration. 

GEM at EGU2025

GEM researchers and collaborators participated in the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2025 in Vienna from 27 April – 2 May 2025, presenting new methods on rupture geometry, site effects, hazard grid optimisation, and EO-based exposure disaggregation. Julián Santiago Montejo, a GEM-TREAD PhD student, received an OSPP Award (outstanding student and PhD candidate presentation) for his poster on optimal site hazard grids. GEM also supported Lisa Jusufi’s participation, following her team’s success as Best Group Presentation at the GEM-EGU Summer School last year. Presentations highlighted GEM’s applied risk science in Colombia, Türkiye, Nepal, and France. 

GEM holds PSHA and OpenQuake training in Camerino

From 9–12 June, GEM delivered a four-day course on probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) and OpenQuake at the University of Camerino, Italy. Led by GEM Seismic Hazard Scientists Kirsty Bayliss and Christopher Brooks, the training combined lectures and hands-on exercises for students and researchers. The course aimed to strengthen local capacity in applying open-source hazard modelling tools. 

Ground failure meets ShakeMap EU

At the Third European ShakeMap Workshop, funded by the GeoINQUIRE project, on 5 June 2025 at INGV Milan, Lana Todorović, GEM Collaborator on Liquefaction and Landslide Modeling, presented her work on integrating liquefaction models into the ShakeMap EU  workflow. Her presentation explored how combining ground failure modelling with real-time ground shaking maps can improve impact assessments and emergency response across Europe. 

Celebrating research milestones in seismic risk

On 29 May 2025, during the International ROSE Seminar in Pavia, GEM PhD researchers Lana Todorović and Naveen Ragu Ramalingam successfully defended their doctoral theses. Lana presented her work on liquefaction risk assessment, while Naveen introduced machine learning methods for modelling offshore-to-onshore tsunami impacts. Both are PhD students at IUSS Pavia. Congratulations to them for advancing research in geohazard and tsunami risk. 

Bridging modelling and vulnerability at COMPDYN2025

At COMPDYN2025 in Rhodes, Greece (10–12 June), GEM’s Al Mouayed Bellah Nafeh and Karim Aljawhari presented work on open-source tools and global vulnerability databases. Furkan Narlitepe (IUSS Pavia) shared his research on retrofitted building vulnerability and cost–benefit analysis, while Amir Taherian (University of Aveiro) introduced machine learning models calibrated with nonlinear simulations. The event convened experts in structural dynamics and earthquake engineering, highlighting applied research supporting improved seismic risk and disaster mitigation strategies.

GEM at ICOSSAR’25 in Los Angeles

At the 14th ICOSSAR, held 1–6 June 2025 at the University of Southern California, GEM’s Karim Aljawhari co-convened Session 37: Vulnerability of the Built Environment with Meera Raghunandan (IIT Bombay) and Eyitayo Opabola (UC Berkeley). The session explored data-driven strategies to assess direct and indirect impacts of natural hazards. GEM also joined broader discussions on structural reliability and uncertainty quantification, reinforcing its commitment to science-based, collaborative approaches to disaster risk reduction and resilience of the global built environment. 

GEM LinkedIn Poll: Where Public Institutions Need Support Most

In a recent GEM LinkedIn poll, 54% of respondents said collaborative risk modelling would most support seismic risk mitigation in their country, followed by model and software training (37%) and input to seismic design codes (9%). The poll was held alongside the launch of GEM’s Public Sponsorship Scheme. Although applications for the merit-based sponsorship tier closed on 24 May 2025, updates and partnership opportunities can be followed at: https://www.globalquakemodel.org/get-involved?tab=partnership-opportunity 

29 April: International Day in Memory of Earthquake Victims

The UN General Assembly has officially designated 29 April as the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes, following a resolution led by Uzbekistan, Chile, and the Philippines. GEM welcomes this recognition as a reminder of the shared responsibility to turn remembrance into action. Honouring the lives lost means continuing to build seismic knowledge, support safer construction, and train local capacity to reduce future risk. Click here for more details.