Guest Lecture by Professor Christian Huggel from the University of Zurich Held at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

On 5 November 2026, the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University hosted an open guest lecture by Prof. Dr. Christian Huggel from the University of Zurich, Switzerland.

The lecture was entitled “The Blatten Glacier Disaster (Switzerland): Impact Assessment, Natural Risk Management and International Experience.”

During the lecture, Professor Huggel presented an in-depth analysis of two major events associated with natural hazards in mountainous regions: the disaster in Blatten, Switzerland, and the rock–ice avalanche and subsequent flood that occurred in the Rasuwa region of Nepal on 26 August 2026. Particular attention was given to a comparative analysis of these two events, the mechanisms underlying the development of catastrophic processes, their impacts, and approaches to natural hazard assessment. The professor also discussed the scientific and practical lessons that can be learned from these events to improve monitoring systems, early warning mechanisms, and disaster risk management in high-mountain regions. A separate part of the lecture focused on the Almaty region in the context of the international GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods) project. The discussion covered the geographical characteristics of the region's mountainous terrain, potential natural hazards, and the importance of further research to strengthen regional resilience to climate and hydrological changes.

The lecture attracted considerable interest among faculty members and students, providing a platform for discussing modern scientific approaches to mountain hazard research and sharing international experience.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology expresses its sincere gratitude to Professor Christian Huggel for his informative lecture, for sharing the findings of his research, and for his contribution to strengthening international scientific and educational cooperation.