The shocking images of the “Himalayan Tsunami” of August 26, 2026 revealed the reality of living with geohazards in the Himalaya to the world. News of the devastation along the flood path and the immeasurable loss faced by surviving communities has circulated globally. What happens when the urgency of the crisis subsides? This interdisciplinary roundtable brings together experts with deep commitment to Himalayan communities to discuss the causes and contexts of the disaster, its ongoing long-term impact in the region, and its implications for global policy conversations about climate justice, infrastructural development, and geopolitics.
Speakers:
Phurwa Dolpopa, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography
Michele Koppes, Professor, Department of Geography
Pasang Yangjee Sherpa, Assistant Professor, Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and Department of Asian Studies
Sara Shneiderman, Associate Professor, School of Public Policy & Global Affairs and Department of Anthropology
Moderator: Mark Turin, Associate Professor, Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies
This event is presented by UBC’s Himalaya Program, the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and the Institute of Asian Research. It is co-sponsored by the Centre for Climate Justice, the Disaster Resilience Research Network, the Centre for India and South Asia Research, and the Department of Asian Studies.
Image features Buddhist monks conducting death rituals in the Trishuli river valley. Credit: Usha Titikshu.
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