The National Science Foundation awarded a two-year, $497,247 Project Grant to the Regents of the University of Michigan under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) to develop a Center Catalyst for the proposed Center for Land Surface Hazards. The Center Catalyst will work to establish a shared vision within the scientific community for innovative, interdisciplinary research on interconnected land-surface hazards such as landslides and floods. It will engage the geoscience research community through planning meetings, leverage existing NSF research facilities for education and outreach, and strengthen partnerships with government agencies. The Center Catalyst will also explore workforce development programs to increase diversity in geoscience careers related to social and environmental equity in hazard science. Findings from the Catalyst activities will inform a strategic plan for a fully established Center that enables transdisciplinary research on cascading land-surface hazards and their impacts.