NEW: Tackling Natural Disasters with AI

On June 4th, we present : "Tackling Natural Disasters with AI" by Prof. Ian Lumb.

Predicting a tsunami is a huge scientific challenge. Warning people in time may be even harder.

In this gripping and accessible lecture, Ian Lumb explores why disaster alerts become so complicated the moment real human behaviour enters the equation. Tsunami warning systems don’t just depend on geology and ocean physics - they also rely on communication networks, public trust, infrastructure, politics, economics, and whether people actually respond when an alert arrives.

Using dramatic real-world examples such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, this lecture examines how subtle differences in undersea earthquakes can lead to radically different outcomes.

So how do we make better decisions in the face of uncertainty?

Ian shares how artificial intelligence is being used to tackle this “wicked problem” - from analyzing social media signals in real time to building teams of AI agents that help humans process chaotic, fast-moving information. The result is a fascinating look at how humans and machines can work together when the stakes are highest.

Expect a high-energy evening of science, technology, and the real-world challenge of protecting lives when every minute counts.

Ian Lumb works at the intersection of Earth systems science and advanced computing. With a background in computational geophysics, he was working with complex predictive models long before they were rebranded as machine learning.

Today, he leads innovation as an AI/ML specialist, designing solutions using advanced tools such as Physics-Informed Neural Networks. He also teaches science and AI to non-majors at York University, with a focus on making complex ideas accessible and useful.

His current research explores how small networks of humans and AI systems can collaborate effectively to solve society’s most difficult and unpredictable challenges.

📅 Date: June 4th, 2026
🕡 Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
📍 Location: Oria on King
🎤 Speaker: Professor Ian Lumb

🎟 Seats are limited!

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