Navakanesh M. Batmanathan

“I’ve often been asked about my lifetime ambition by many people, including my parents. Geology is my greatest passion, and through my interactions with my mentors at Curtin Malaysia, Dr. Afroz Ahmad Shah, Dr. Nagarajan Ramasamy and Dr. M. V. Prasanna, I became particularly fascinated with earthquakes and disasters. I have also done a lot of personal study that has given me a deeper understanding and desire to learn more on earthquake geology.

“The 5^th June 2015 earthquake in Ranau, Sabah was an eye-opener for many, including geoscientists. It showed that our understanding of the earth is still vague. We can mitigate damage from earthquakes if scientists and the authorities work together, be aware of vulnerabilities, consider possible scenarios, and simultaneously educate people.

“Prediction of earthquakes remains a major challenge but we can learn to live with earthquakes by observing strict construction standards, conducting careful geological evaluation of building sites, and public education.” –Navakanesh M. Batmanathan, MPhil graduate, now National Geographic Young Explorer and earthquake geologist