UFAZ to Host a Research Seminar in Structural Geology

About event

On October 29, the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) will host a research seminar featuring Professor Robert Butler, a renowned scholar in geology and geophysics. The seminar is titled “Distributed Faulting and Fault Growth in Stratigraphic Multilayers – The Challenges of Interpretation Uncertainty and Bias.”

Robert Butler is Emeritus Professor of Tectonics at the University of Aberdeen, where he previously served as Head of the Department of Geology and Geophysics. He has also held academic positions at the University of Leeds and The Open University. His research focuses on structural geology, contractional tectonics, thrust fault systems, and the structure of sedimentary basins. His fieldwork and research cover regions including the Himalayas, Arabia, northwestern Scotland, Sicily, and the Alps, drawing on field observations, stratigraphy, geomorphology, and seismic interpretation. Professor Butler has published more than 160 scientific papers. In recognition of his contributions to field education and geoconservation, he became the inaugural recipient of the Geological Society’s Dewey Medal. He has also served on the Society’s council and chaired its geoconservation committee, and is a Chartered Geologist. In addition, he directed The Virtual Seismic Atlas for 12 years. He currently shares educational content on structural geology, tectonics, and seismic interpretation through his YouTube channel, The Shear Zone.

During the seminar, Professor Butler will explore the uncertainties involved in interpreting complex geological structures, the influence of cognitive biases on scientific interpretations, and the importance of geological risk management. Drawing on examples from the foothills of the Canadian Cordillera, the Andes, and the Jura, he will discuss the interpretation of thrust fault systems, the limitations of theoretical geological models, and the challenges of applying approaches used in the oil and gas industry to geological storage projects.

Following the lecture, participants will have the opportunity to take part in a prize-winning Q&A session. The event will conclude with a networking session, offering participants an opportunity to exchange ideas and build professional connections.

We warmly invite everyone interested to join the seminar!

Date: October 29, 2026

Time: 16:15

Venue: UFAZ, Room 102

Registration link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/11PgrLGmt0?origin=lprLink