NHERI Graduate Student Council
2026 Mini-Conference
The U.S. National Science Foundation Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure Graduate Student Council (NSF NHERI GSC) is excited to announce the fourth annual NSF NHERI GSC Mini-Conference: Innovations in Natural Hazards Research. The virtual event brings together graduate students and professionals working in natural hazards research. The conference features engaging member poster presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities to foster collaboration and innovation in the field.
We are excited to announce that our keynote speaker will be Dr. David Roueche from Auburn University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Updates
Our keynote speaker, Dr. David Roueche, the Gottlieb Associate Professor of Structural Engineering at Auburn University and Director of Data Standards for the Structural Extreme Events Reconnaissance Network, will deliver an enlightening talk. More details coming soon.
Attendees may submit questions to our keynote speaker, Dr. Roueche, in our Mini-Conference registration (https://bit.ly/2026NHERIGSC_Mini-Conference) until April 15, 2026. Registration for the Mini-Conference will remain open until May 14, 2026.
Abstract Submission is Now Open
We invite you to submit your poster abstract for the 2026 NSF NHERI GSC Mini-Conference: Innovations in Natural Hazards Research by Friday, January 16, 2026.
Program Information
The NSF NHERI Graduate Student Council is excited to announce our fourth annual NSF NHERI GSC Mini-Conference: Innovations in Natural Hazards Research. This year’s virtual conference brings together GSC members in the field of natural hazards to present original, multidisciplinary research. Accepted poster presentations may include novel approaches to methods, empirical research, and interdisciplinary work from graduate student researchers, including geotechnical engineers, structural engineers, sociologists, demographers, computer scientists, and members from other disciplines. These selected posters will also be included in the 2026 NSF NHERI GSC Mini-Conference Book of Proceedings published to DataDepot in Fall 2026.
The NSF NHERI GSC Mini-Conference will run from 09:00 am-4:00 pm CT on Friday, May 15, 2026. The full schedule of events will be released in late April.
Data & Research Challenges
This year, the Mini-Conference will host both a Data and Research Challenge.
The second Data Challenge – When Data Speaks: Interpreting Hazards Beyond Numbers – is meant to foster innovative solutions and insights into natural hazard phenomena using datasets from DesignSafe. Participants are encouraged to explore freely, apply analytical techniques, and develop machine learning models to address pressing issues in disaster resilience and risk mitigation.
The third Research Challenge – Pioneering Innovative Solutions: Understanding & Strengthening Infrastructure and Communities Under Multi-Hazard Risk – encourages teams to consider critical questions in natural hazards from the NSF NHERI Science Plan’s key research questions. Participants are encouraged to explore creative solutions to natural hazard mitigation using these questions as a guide to new collaborations, innovative frameworks, and methods.
Data and Research Challenge participants are encouraged to form a team of 3-5 members or allow us to match you with a team. Registration opens Wednesday, October 15, and closes Thursday, November 13, 2026 (https://bit.ly/2026NHERIGSC_Mini-Conference).
Challenge teams may explore a wide range of natural hazards which may include wind, storm surge, tsunami, earthquake, social science, wildfire, or inland flooding. All teams will present their work and findings at the NSF NHERI GSC Mini-Conference on Friday, May 15, 2026, as a poster. The top three Data Challenge (3) and Research Challenge (3) posters, as judged by a panel of experts in April, will be invited to share a fifteen-minute presentation at the 2026 NSF NHERI GSC Mini-Conference and be announced as Challenge winners at the event, online on the conference website, and through NSF NHERI GSC social media. We invite you to register as a team or individually today!
Eligibility
Everyone is welcome to attend this free virtual event. The NSF NHERI GSC Mini-Conference is open to NSF NHERI GSC members, non-member graduate students, faculty, administrators, industry professionals, or others interested in hearing innovative, multidisciplinary research in the natural hazards field.
All registrants will receive a calendar invite with a link to attend the virtual Mini-Conference following registration. We expect all attendees to abide by the NSF NHERI GSC Participation and Community Engagement Guidelines (PDF).
Contact Us
For questions, please contact the NHERI GSC Organizing Committee:
- Pooria Mazaheri, Chair of Research (mazaheri@iastate.edu)
- Zul Kazeem, Co-Chair of Research (azk15@case.edu
- Parisa Toofani Movaghar, President (ptoofani@nd.edu)
- Rajee Tamrakar, Chair of Community Engagement (rajee.tamrakar@stonybrook.edu)
- Narayan Kumar, Vice President (narayank@udel.edu)
- SeyedAlireza Mirghafouri, Chair of Workshops and Mentoring (seyedalireza.mirghafouri@stonybrook.edu)
Download the 2026 NSF NHERI GSC Mini-Conference flyer to share:
