In memory of Paola Reichenbach

20 August 2026

It is with great sadness to let you know that our long-standing colleague and friend Paola Reichenbach passed away on 17 August 2026.

Paola had a long and important association with Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. She joined the NHESS editorial board in 2006 and served the journal for twenty years. During that time, she handled many papers as an editor, contributed 14 research papers to NHESS, and was involved as an editor in seven special issues, spanning from some of the journal's early years through to 2025.

Paola was an outstanding scientist and a leading international figure in landslide research, particularly in landslide susceptibility, hazard, and risk assessment. Her scientific contributions were substantial, but those of us who knew and worked with Paola will equally remember her warmth, kindness, and generosity, and the collegiality she brought to the scientific community.

Her loss will be deeply felt by colleagues and friends across the natural hazards community, including many within NHESS.

We extend our deepest condolences to Paola's family, friends, and her colleagues at CNR–IRPI.

With our deepest sympathy,
Bruce D. Malamud, Brunella Bonaccorso, Animesh Gain, Margreth Keiler, Gregor C. Leckebusch, Paolo Tarolli, and Uwe Ulbrich

CNR obituary (in Italian): https://www.cnr.it/it/news/14573

Statement by the Presidents of CNR and of the National Committee for Research Evaluation, via ANSA (in Italian): Addio alla scienziata Paola Reichenbach – Ministero dell'università e della Ricerca (MUR) – Ansa.it