Dear Friends,

Conducting research that unravels the complex processes behind natural hazards is often difficult. But the need for greater knowledge is urgent for those who may be in harm’s way. This is an important driver for high-risk, high-reward science.

The cover story in The Geoscientist follows a mission to Greenland, led by Professor Ginny Catania, to take measurements and images never-before collected at the underwater interface of a glacier, its sediment base and seawater. What happens here is one of the major blind spots in models used to predict future sea level changes that will impact coastal communities around the world. Catania assembled a team of 23 scientists, students and engineers from seven institutions. Their efforts exemplify the incredible research that is made possible by scientific collaboration!

Other examples of high-impact research at the Jackson School of Geosciences includes the development of a radar instrument now riding aboard NASA’s Europa Clipper to peer below the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. Another group is collaborating with the reinsurance company Verisk to improve its model for quantifying natural hazards risk. And another is using algorithms to analyze a record of big earthquakes in Cascadia.

One of our greatest challenges is to meet the global demand for reliable and affordable energy. Every method of energy production brings benefits and incurs costs to society and the Earth. At The University of Texas at Austin and the Jackson School, we seek to be objective and pragmatic, taking an “and, not or” approach to energy systems. We highlight how Jackson School research covers the energy landscape, from subsurface energy systems (oil and gas, hydrogen, carbon capture, geothermal) to managing induced seismicity, evaluating the water-energy nexus, and examining the full life cycle costs of electricity generation. I hope you enjoy The Geoscientist. Research inspires us all!

Claudia Mora, Dean

Jackson School of Geosciences

The University of Texas at Austin