Nick Rosser

Professor Nick Rosser holds a faculty position in the Department of Geography at Durham University and serves as a Fellow and Management Board Member of the Institute of Hazard, Risk & Resilience. His academic role focuses on advancing geohazard research through interdisciplinary collaboration and field-based investigations.

His research centers on material deformation characteristics in rockfalls and landslides, with specific expertise in:

• Earthquake-triggered landsliding dynamics
• 3D terrestrial time-series monitoring techniques
• Rock coast evolution processes
• Landslide risk management frameworks

Employing both laboratory experiments and field data collection, his work develops theoretical models to predict slope failure mechanisms while maintaining strong end-user relevance for disaster risk reduction.

Recent publications (2021-2025) reveal a strategic focus on Himalayan landslide systems, utilizing satellite imagery and machine learning for hazard detection. Key trends include automated monitoring of slow-moving landslides via Sentinel-2, national-scale susceptibility mapping in Nepal, and analysis of cascading hazards following major earthquakes. His group pioneered hypergraph modeling for multi-hazard interactions and demonstrated weak correlations between building damage and fatality rates in landslides.

Professor Rosser actively supervises PhD candidates Ian Pawlby and Sophie Kenmare while leading major research initiatives. He directs the Coastal Behaviour and Rates of Activity (COBRA) collaboration with ICL Fertilizers (UK) Ltd, investigating coastal cliff evolution in North Yorkshire. Additionally, he heads a DFID-Nepal funded project assessing landslide risk evolution in post-Gorkha earthquake regions through partnership with the National Society for Earthquake Technology in Kathmandu.

His research operations are coordinated through the Institute of Hazard, Risk & Resilience, where he contributes to interdisciplinary disaster resilience strategies. Current projects integrate terrestrial laser scanning, satellite remote sensing, and community engagement methodologies to address complex geohazard challenges across multiple continents.