Sunil Tamang comes from Langtang Valley, Nepal and is currently pursuing a PhD student at the Geospatial Research Institute (GRI), University of Canterbury in Aotearoa New Zealand. Sunil earned an Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies from a consortium of universities from Germany, Spain, and Portugal. He also completed Master of Applied Science with First Class Honours in Disaster Risk Management at Lincoln University, New Zealand. Following the tragic 2015 Nepal earthquake, Sunil took initiative to led reconstruction project, overseeing the rebuilding of 22 homes in his native village. The effort was made possible through fundraising abroad and active participation of local community. His other prior work involvement includes ICIMOD`s IDRC-funded post-2015 Nepal earthquake reconstruction and recovery project and a Research Associate for UKGRI`s GCRF Collective Programme (2021-2023) funded Sajag-Nepal Project: Planning and Preparedness for the mountain hazard and risk chain in Nepal.
His current research interests are developing machine learning algorithms for interpreting earth observation data for mapping and analysing cryosphere landforms; exposure and vulnerability associated with natural hazards; and engaging in interdisciplinary research to facilitate holistic natural resources management. Outside of academia, he has a passion for long-distance hiking and has completed several notable journeys such as a solo trek of about 2000 km along the Nepal section of the Great Himalayan Trail in 2011. He has also explored New Zealand`s several sub-Antarctic islands. He also recently walked the Camino de Santiago, a trail spanning 623 km in northern Spain.
