Prof. Dr. Pascal Haegeli

2004: Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada

1998: Dipl. Natw. (Erdwissendschaften), ETH Zürich, Switzerland

• Head of SLF Research Unit “Snow Avalanches and Prevention”, since 2026
• Associate Professor, School for Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, Canada, since 2021

• Director, School for Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, Canada, 2025-2026
• Visiting Research Fellow, WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland, 2023-2024
• Assistant Professor, School for Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, Canada, 2015-2021
• Adjunct Professor, School for Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, Canada, 2010-2015
• Postdoctoral Fellow, School for Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, Canada, 2006-2008
• Owner and Principal Scientist, Avisualanche Consulting, Vancouver BC, Canada, 2004-2015

Applied interdisciplinary research at the interface of natural and social science in support of avalanche risk management including studies on the operational use of snowpack and avalanche hazard models, avalanche terrain modelling, hazard assessment and risk management practices of avalanche professionals and recreationists, quantification and characterization of winter backcountry recreationists, effective public avalanche risk communication, trend analyses of avalanche accidents, and effectiveness of avalanche safety equipment.

2025: Service Award of Canadian Avalanche Association

2023: WSL Fellowship for visiting scientist at WSL-Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland

2023: Gordon Ritchie Service Award of Avalanche Canada “In recognition of your leadership in research, innovation, and the exceptional contributions you have made to public avalanche safety in Canada.”

2017: NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Avalanche Risk Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, Canada

Slimkowich, G, and Haegeli, P. (2025). Understanding exposure to avalanche terrain and avalanche information product use of snowshoers and winter hikers: Insights from Mount Seymour Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. J. Outdoor Recreat. Tour., 52, 1000968. doi: 10.1016/j.jort.2025.100968.

Neweduk, A., and Haegeli, P. (2025). Exploring motivations of winter backcountry recreationists in support of avalanche risk communication. J. Outdoor Recreat. Tour., 52, 1000892. doi: 10.1016/j.jort.2025.100892.

Sykes, J., Haegeli, P., Atkins, R., Mair, P., and Bühler, Y. (2025). Development of operational decision support tools for mechanized ski guiding using avalanche terrain modelling, GPS tracking, and machine learning. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1255–1292. doi: 10.5194/nhess-25-1255-2025.

Herla, F., Haegeli, P., Horton, S., and Mair, P. (2025). A quantitative module of avalanche hazard—comparing forecaster assessments of storm and persistent slab avalanche problems with information derived from distributed snowpack simulations. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 625646, doi: 10.5194/nhess-25-625-2025.

Horton, S., Herla, F., and Haegeli, P. (2025). Clustering simulated snow profiles to form avalanche forecast regions. Geophy. Model Dev., 18, 193-209, doi: 10.5194/gmd-18-193-2025. 

Herla, F., Haegeli, P., Horton, S., and Mair, P. (2024). A large-scale validation of snowpack simulations in support of avalanche forecasting focusing on critical layers. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2727-2756, doi: 10.5194/nhess-24-2727-2024.

Sykes, J., Toft, H., Haegeli, P., and Statham. G. (2024). Automated Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) mapping – Local validation and optimization in Western Canada. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 947–971, doi: 10.5194/nhess-24-947-2024.

Van Tilburg, C., Paal, P., Strapazzon, G., Grissom, C. K., Haegeli, P., Hölzl, N., . . . Brugger, H. (2024). Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Avalanche and Nonavalanche Snow Burial Accidents: 2024 Update. Wildern. Environ. Med., 35(1), 20S-44S. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2023.05.014.

Morgan, A., Haegeli, P., Finn, H., and Mair, P. (2023). A user perspective on the avalanche danger scale – insights from North America. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1719-1742. doi: 10.5194/nhess-23-1719-2023.

Sykes, J., Haegeli, P., and Bühler, Y. (2022). Automated snow avalanche release area delineation in data sparse, remote, and forested region. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3247-3270. doi: 10.5194/nhess-22-3247-2022.

Herla, F., Haegeli, P., and Mair, P. (2022). A data exploration tool for averaging and accessing large data sets of snow stratigraphy profiles useful for avalanche forecasting. The Cryosphere, 16, 3149–3162. doi: 10.5194/tc-16-3149-2022.

Horton, S., and Haegeli, P. (2022). Using snow depth observations to provide insight into the quality of snowpack simulations for regional-scale avalanche forecasting. The Cryosphere, 16, 3393–3411. doi: 10.5194/tc-16-3393-2022.

See Google Scholar for a more comprehensive list of publications.