My name is Thomas, I’ll be the instructor for our FIG A Trip Down Memory Lane. I am a volcanologist, assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences. I am one of the lucky persons who is living his passion as I have wanted to become a volcanologist since I was a young teenager. Before that, I wanted to be an archeologist and I have always been very interested in history in general ever since. That is why I decided to couple these interests in this FIG in which we will see how scientific and literary study can be combined to investigate what we can learn about past natural disasters from the traces they leave buried both in the ground and in cultural memory. 

Aside from having my dream job, I am also living and working in a country that is not mine, I am French. I moved to the United States about eight years ago after completing all my studies in France and I arrived in Eugene only four years ago, after two years in Texas and another two in Michigan. So, like most of you, the U of O was very new for me when I moved to Oregon, and I’ll be very happy to share with you not only my knowledge about volcanoes and earthquakes, but also what I’ve learnt about this University and college life for the last four years.  

Please do not hesitate to contact Sammy or me if you have any questions concerning my teaching, the course, or the university in general. I am very excited to welcome you here and remember that I am here to help you succeed. 

Email: tgiachet@uoregon.edu