I am writing to you today from Columbus, Ohio, where I am visiting to give some lectures at The Ohio State University. I love making these visits. As I step into a different department, I am struck with the breadth of our field and the many ways different Earth Scientists contribute to society. Here I am talking to hydrologists, geodesists, structural geologists and geophysicists. Some of them measure how rivers are changing using space-based measurements. Others are tracking contaminant transport. Still others grapple with the gravity field of the Earth, which influences inertial guidance. All are dedicated scientists who are harnessing their skills to push forward human knowledge, often with direct benefits to society.

Scientific funding and the agencies that support science have become a major subject of public conversation and controversy. Our field of Earth science, and more specifically natural hazard studies, is in a special position in this debate. Everyone can agree that earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions kill people, destroy property and devastate economies. We agree that understanding and mitigating these threats is important. The SZ4D vision resonates across the political spectrum.

This newsletter highlights the many ways SZ4D scientists are contributing new knowledge and driving progress. The SZNet field trip brought scientists out into the field on the Chilean margin to study the interconnected rock record of eruptions, mass movements and faulting. The matchmaking survey is connecting nearly 200 scientists to find complementary disciplinary expertise necessary to solve problems, The IMPACTS group is developing the workforce for the next generation of scientists. In the featured papers and webinars, we are learning about fault zone structure, volcanic heterogeneity, erosive processes and slip sequences (in multiple languages!). We are also moving forward on proposing the MultiHazard Array, which is the most ambitious instrumental initiative ever to capture multihazard events in context. To that end, we recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SERNAGEOMIN, which will allow the necessary cooperation and data sharing to take on volcanic hazards. Take a peak at our refreshed website pages on Infrastructure Plans for more info. We continue to move forward thanks in large part because of the dedication of all of you.

Many thanks, as always,

Emily