The Nepal Society of Engineering Geology (NSEG) is pleased to announce the IAEG Field School in the Himalaya. It is a two-week course in engineering geological mapping along the Kali Gandaki valley in Nepal, and it takes place in April 2027. This will be the first international field school in engineering geology held in the Himalaya.
Registration will open soon. Applications will be taken on NSEG’s registration site, register.nseg.org.np. We will post the opening date and the application deadline here as soon as they are confirmed.
What the School covers
Over 14 days, participants follow the Kali Gandaki through three tectonic zones, from the Lesser Himalaya near Pokhara to the Tibetan-Tethys Himalaya at Muktinath. They map in groups of five or six, and each group has its own instructor. Groups spend several nights at each of four bases:
- Pokhara and Naudanda. A large, deep-seated creeping landslide beneath a village and its roads, studied for hazard assessment and mitigation.
- Tatopani. The regional geology, setting and natural hazards of the middle Kali Gandaki.
- Lete. Large diamictons of landslide and glacial origin, and how to distinguish them.
- Jomsom, Jharkot and Muktinath. Deep-seated landslides, glacial landforms, landslide dams and the lake deposits behind them.
The instructors come from universities, research centres and consultancies in Austria, Italy, Japan, Nepal and elsewhere, and they teach on a voluntary basis.
Who can apply
The School has up to 25 places. It is open to PhD students, early-career researchers and junior practitioners in engineering geology, geotechnical engineering and geomorphology. Members of IAEG national groups are given preference. Participants should be fit enough for long days on steep ground. The last field days are at about 3,700 m.
Fees
The fee covers accommodation, all meals, field transport, safety kit and course materials for the 14 days in Nepal.
- Nepali participants: fully funded by NSEG (at least 3 places)
- Low- to middle-income countries: USD 1,000
- High-income countries: USD 2,500
NSEG is seeking sponsors to support participants from low-income countries.
Getting ready
You can prepare now. You will need your CV and a letter of support from your supervisor or employer, each as a PDF of up to 5 MB. If your country has an IAEG national group, consider joining it before you apply.
Full details are on the Programme and Apply & fees pages. Questions can go to the Secretariat at nsegnepal@gmail.com.
The School is organised by IAEG, with NSEG as host and Secretariat, together with the Austrian and Italian National Groups of IAEG.