Who we are

RISKNAT has grown and enriched in 2023 by incorporating new institutions and research topics. We are a group of researchers, grouped into different research teams, attached to the following institutions:

• Departament de Dinàmica de la Terra i de l’Oceà of the Facultat de Ciències de la Terra (FCT) de la Universitat de Barcelona (DTO-UB);
• Departament de Geologia of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (DG-UAB) ;
• Institut de Ciències del Mar of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICM-CSIC).

RISKNAT is currently made up of 18 members, of whom we are 13 doctors (11 with a permanent contract), 1 research technician, and 4 pre-doctoral researchers.

Joan Manuel Vilaplana Fernàndez led the group until 2018, when he was replaced by Eulàlia Masana Closa, current coordinator.

We are an interdisciplinary group, constituted by geologists, engineering geologists and geophysicists. This allows for a synergic comprehension of phenomena under study and the development of new techniques and methodologies. We cover a broad spectrum of activities, from field work (which we prioritise, both on land and offshore), to hazard assessment.

Gender balance

RISKNAT is coordinated since 2017 by a woman (E.Masana) and includes 9 women out of 18 members. Women are the leaders of 4 out of 8 research lines on hazardous processes, indicating that both genders are empowered in our group. Also, the former president and promoter of the Comissió d’Igualtat at the Facultat de Ciències de la Terra (UB), where RISKNAT is affiliated, is member of our group (M.Ortuño). We also prioritize woman appearance in the media and in the outreach material we generate. On the other hand, and regarding high level teaching and training, the coordinator of the Especialitat de Riscos Geològics of the Master en Recursos Minerals i Riscos Geològics (UB-UAB) is also a woman. We note also that ICM researchers involved in the group abide by the Pla d’Igualtat of CSIC and within ICM’s Severo Ochoa Strategic Plan (2020-2023), specific gender balance actions are being implemented to ensure gender balance at all levels of the research career stage and within the research disciplines of ICM.