Many of us regularly travel to regions of the world where the possibility of earthquakes is an ever-present risk. In this workshop, we will explore the global distribution of earthquakes, why they occur and how to read clues in the landscape that suggest you are in a risk area. We will assess the recent earthquake record in key regions and, combined with what is known about building standards, consider what we might infer about potential future hazard. In the event of an earthquake, we consider group management and simple things to do before, during and after an event to ensure that you and your clients stay as safe as is possible. No prior knowledge of geology (or earthquakes) is required!
Dr Richard Phillips is a former academic geologist with 16 years of experience working in the field of mountain building and earthquakes. He has studied active fault zones in California, Utah, Idaho, the Karakoram-Himalaya region, Turkey and Italy. He was Director of Climate and Geohazard Services, a former spin-out institute within the University of Leeds. Richard was part of the UK response team to the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake in Abruzzo and has provided expert opinion on natural hazards for the BBC, The Times, India 24 and PBS USA.