Engineering Geohazards

Our society worldwide is repeatedly the victim of destructive natural forces due to extreme natural events. High economic losses, the loss of human life and the endangerment of social structures have to be overcome regularly. Predicting the effects of these forces in terms of their extent, space, time and intensity and minimising their consequences is a central, interdisciplinary challenge at a local, national and global level. The intensities of extreme exogenous natural events (storms, storm surges, heavy rainfall events) are increasing, but endogenous natural events (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions) also regularly occur with varying degrees of damage. Complex chains and cascading catastrophes that follow an initial extreme natural event are often of no less intensity (tsunamis, mass movements) and cumulative in their extent. The Master's degree programme in Engineering Geohazards (EGH) is interdisciplinarily linked between natural sciences, engineering and economics. In four semesters, a comprehensive geoscientific basis is taught to understand the complex impact of natural hazards and assess their consequences for society. In order to protect lives from the consequences of natural disasters, the responsible development and design of engineering protection measures is an essential part of this programme. Furthermore, the course of study imparts skills for sustainable preparation and rehabilitation of the habitat in the area of conflict between disaster prevention, national and business economics and ecology, since coping with disasters is associated with high costs. In the long term, graduates are expected to contribute to better control and to develop a sustainable design of our living space. Practical experience and the option of an applied Master's thesis in the partner companies as part of a research module are an integral part of the curriculum. This period is thus also intended as a fixed mobility window. There is also the possibility to attend courses within the geoscientific network of the Aachen/Bonn/Cologne/Jülich research area within the ABC-J module, especially if these courses complement the RWTH Aachen University's offers.