Dr. Sumanta Pasari of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani

This session will feature Dr. Sumanta Pasari, who will deliver a talk titled "Statistics of Earthquakes: Forecasting and Nowcasting." The lecture will explore the statistical formulation of earthquake forecasting and nowcasting, their significance in seismic hazard assessment, and their applications in disaster mitigation, policy making, and community resilience in seismically active regions.

The session will highlight the integration of data-driven and physics-driven models for quantifying earthquake hazard, with case studies drawn from India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Iran, and Myanmar. The talk will also provide insights into geodetic strain distribution and earthquake potential along the Himalayan region, underscoring the growing importance of geospatial and statistical approaches in understanding complex seismic systems.

Key Learning Outcomes

Participants will gain:

• Understanding of earthquake forecasting and nowcasting methodologies
• Insights into statistical models for seismic hazard quantification
• Knowledge of geodetic strain analysis and earthquake potential assessment
• Exposure to real-world case studies from seismically active regions across Asia and the Pacific
• Awareness of interdisciplinary research integrating geospatial science, mathematics, and civil engineering for disaster risk reduction

Target Audience

• Undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Research scholars and faculty members
• IEEE GRSS members
• Professionals and enthusiasts interested in geospatial science, seismic hazard, remote sensing, and disaster risk reduction

Session Format

• Expert Lecture / Invited Talk
• Interactive Q&A and discussion session

Biography:

Here is the updated biography with the correct joint faculty designation:

I am an Associate Professor jointly appointed in the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Civil Engineering at Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani (Pilani Campus). My interdisciplinary academic background spanning mathematics, civil engineering, and geoinformatics naturally reflects this dual affiliation, with research interests sitting at the intersection of statistical seismology, geophysics, and space geodesy.

My work focuses on understanding how earthquakes cluster, interact, and evolve in space and time for long-term hazard forecasting and seismic risk quantification, with direct applications in disaster mitigation, earthquake insurance, and government policy. In crustal deformation studies, I work on GPS-based geodetic modelling of Indo-Eurasia tectonic plate coupling to estimate interseismic strain distribution and earthquake potential in the Himalayan zone.

I completed my PhD from IIT Kanpur in Civil Engineering (Geoinformatics specialisation), with a thesis on understanding Himalayan tectonics through geodetic and stochastic modelling. I have also served as a Visiting Scientist at the Department of Geomatics, NCKU Taiwan, and conducted post-doctoral research at IIT Kanpur.

In addition to research, I am deeply committed to teaching and mentoring, and I actively contribute to building interdisciplinary bridges between mathematics, geosciences, and engineering for real-world seismic hazard mitigation.

Email:

Address:Department of Mathematics, Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani, Pilani, Rajasthan, India, 333031