Shivam Priyadarshi, a PhD scholar from the Department of Geography at the Central University of South Bihar (CUSB), under the supervision of Dr. Somnath Bera participated in the Fourth Summer School of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG) held in Aosta, Italy this past week. CUSB Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kameshwar Nath Singh, Registrar Prof. Narendra Kumar Rana, Prof. Kiran Kumari, Head, Geography Department congratulated Shivam on this achievement. The Vice-Chancellor said that this international achievement is praiseworthy, emphasizing that such global exposure strengthens the research culture at CUSB and contributes to building expertise in climate resilience and disaster risk management areas of growing importance for India and beyond. Shivam Priyadarshi is doing research under the guidance of Dr. Somnath Bera, Assistant Professor, Geography.

Providing details Dr. Somnath Bera said that the school, titled “The Role of Geological Models for Geo-Hazards Management and Infrastructure Design,” brought together early-career researchers and experts from around the globe to discuss innovative approaches for managing geo-hazards—such as landslides, debris flows, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs)—while integrating geological models into sustainable infrastructure development. Shivam was one of 30 participants selected worldwide through a competitive international process. During the program, he received advanced training on geo-hazard assessment tools, numerical modeling techniques, and the integration of geological and geotechnical data for hazard-prone regions. His participation aligns closely with his doctoral research on climate-induced disasters, particularly debris flows and GLOFs. A delighted Shivam said “This was an enriching academic experience where I had the opportunity to engage with leading researchers and practitioners in disaster risk reduction. The field visits to the Alpine regions and the hands-on sessions on remote sensing and modeling tools were especially valuable for my ongoing research.”