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Michael West is a research professor at the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He serves as Alaska State Seismologist and director of the Alaska Earthquake Center. West earned a B.A. cum laude from Colorado College in 1993, an M.S. from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University in 1998, and a Ph.D. with distinction from the same institution in 2001. His professional appointments at the University of Alaska Fairbanks include postdoctoral fellow from 2001 to 2004, research assistant professor from 2004 to 2011, research associate professor from 2011 to 2018, and research professor since 2018. He has held the position of State Seismologist since 2012.
West’s research applies seismology to earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, glaciers, and other natural hazards, with a primary emphasis on Alaska. As director of the Alaska Earthquake Center, he oversees seismic monitoring for the state and leads efforts in research, public engagement, and hazard mitigation. In 2019 he received the Usibelli Award from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
A landmark study from UCalgary and UAF reveals how a 2025 Alaska landslide unleashed the second-tallest tsunami ever, linking glacier retreat to rising risks for cruise tourism and coastal safety.
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