Costas E. Synolakis

Costas E. Synolakis is Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Southern California and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the Academy of Athens.

An internationally recognised authority on tsunamis, coastal hazards and fires, he has pioneered post-disaster field surveys, numerical modeling, inundation mapping, and early-warning strategies. His research has strengthened preparedness and evacuation planning in vulnerable communities and informed disaster-risk-reduction policies internationally.

He has advised governments and international organizations and received numerous honors for his research and public service. Professor Synolakis is also a former President of Athens College and a longstanding advocate for scientific literacy, evidence-based public policy, and the use of science to protect lives and communities.