Michel Bruneau is a SUNY Distinguished Professor at the University at Buffalo's Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering within the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. His research focuses on earthquake-resistant design, blast-resistant structures, multi-hazard engineering, and seismic evaluation of infrastructure. He has authored influential books such as The Blessings of Disaster , exploring disaster resilience and societal adaptation. Bruneau's career includes leadership roles in NSF-funded research centers and over 20 prestigious awards for engineering innovation. Beyond academia, he has published novels and composed music, blending technical expertise with creative pursuits. Education: PhD (1987), MS (1984) in Structural Engineering from UC Berkeley; BS in Civil Engineering from Université Laval (1983). Research emphasizes resilient infrastructure, including seismic retrofitting of bridges and buildings. His work bridges engineering, policy, and sociology, advocating for proactive disaster preparedness. Notable contributions include advances in buckling-restrained braces and composite plate shear walls for structural resilience.








