Bob Watters

Bob Watters is a Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is affiliated with the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering within the College of Science. His research focuses on geologic hazards involving slope instability in varied environments, including volcanic edifice stability, open pit mine slope dynamics, and seismic-induced slope failures. He has conducted fieldwork across the Cascade Range, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, and South America.

Education:

• Ph.D. 1972, Imperial College London, England
• M.S. 1970, Imperial College London, England
• D.I.C. 1970, Imperial College London, England
• B.S. 1969, University of Strathclyde, Scotland

Research Expertise: Watters specializes in rock mass strength characterization of weathered/hydrothermally altered rocks, paleoseismic lateral spreading analysis, and engineering geology consulting for infrastructure projects. His work integrates volcanic terrain stability with mining applications.

Professional Experience: Over 40 years of industry experience in civil/mining engineering consulting across the USA, UK, and Africa. Expert witness in slope stability litigation and geohazard risk assessment for transportation projects. Holder of major grants from NSF, DOE, NASA, and state transportation departments.

Awards:

• 2001 Richard H Jahns Distinguished Lecturer

Labs/Teams: Leads volcano instability research programs in collaboration with NASA and international geological surveys. Active in open-pit mining stability assessments for major mining corporations.