Geologist Ron Harris forecasted the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, and so the loss of life in that disaster devastated him. In this episode of Constant Wonder, he tells host Marcus Smith how, after that tragedy, he expanded his work to include disaster prevention and well as forecasting. He estimates his foundation has saved 50,000 lives so far.

Ron Harris has been obsessed with plate tectonics since childhood. As a professor of geology, he published widely on threats of earthquakes and tsunamis, but two events convinced him that forecasting wasn't enough. One day, he overhead his young son saying that his dad "wasn't a doctor who helped people," and then there was the catastrophic loss of life in the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. He decided to found In Harm's Way, which helps people prepare for natural disasters.

Guest: Ron Harris, professor of geology at BYU and founder of In Harm's Way

(0:00) Meet Ron Harris

(5:39) The Eruption of Mount St. Helens

(11:01) A Doctor Who Helps

(18:16) Boxing Day Tsunami 2004

(22:51) Moken Survival Strategies

(25:19) Ron's Calling

(32:24) Social Media and Mitigation

(38:06) Local Disaster Mitigation

(41:14) Surfing and Purpose

(47:04) Spreading the Word of 20-20-20