Huddersfield hosts global disaster research conference
Some of the country’s leading experts in disaster research gathered at the University of Huddersfield for the 2023 UK Alliance for Disaster Research (UKADR) Conference to assess how the growing need to manage disaster risks effectively can be met.
The annual event, which was titled: 2030 and Beyond: Risk-informed decision making, investment and behaviour, was hosted by the university’s Global Disaster Resilience Centre (GDRC) over two days and also welcomed some internationally-renowned expertise.
Chaired by the GDRC’s Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga and Professor Richard Haigh, the conference drew over 200 delegates and featured sessions led by experts from institutions including University College London and the London School of Economic and Political Science. Keynote speakers were Professor Suzanne Wilkinson, from New Zealand’s Massey University, and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s Dr Abhilash Panda.
Dr Panda discussed the interconnections between science, technology, policy, and the private sector and that operationalizing this nexus is crucial to ensuring that development decisions. He also discussed how disaster research may need to move from risk assessment to risk management. Professor Wilkinson’s address looked at how New Zealand is trying to be more resilient as it rebuilds areas affected by earthquakes earlier in this century.
The conference is inspired by the mid-term review of the Implementation of the Sendai Framework 2015-2030 (MTR SF), which emphasises the importance of disaster risk management. While progress has been made since its implementation in 2015, the planet’s increasing instability carries significant risks.
“The conference theme encompassed a wide range of critical topics that shape the field of disaster research and risk-informed decision-making and it fostered interdisciplinary discussions and explored innovative approaches to address the challenges we face,” commented Professor Amaratunga, co-chair of the conference.
Conference themes included: Risk Governance and Management; Financial Aspects of Disaster Risk; Interconnected Risks and Impacts; Data and Information Systems, amongst many others.
“These themes served as focal points for insightful discussions, knowledge sharing, and collaboration throughout the conference. Together, we hope we managed to advance our understanding of disaster risks and drive effective decision-making for a more resilient future,” added Professor Haigh, co- chair of the conference.
“We also recognised the importance of supporting Early Career Researchers in their professional development. At the UKADR 2023 conference, and we provided opportunities tailored to their unique needs under the theme of ‘Early Career Development Pathways.’”
The UKADR is an alliance of Disaster Researchers, broadly conceived, that are based in or have strong connections to the UK. The UKADR goal is to engage the UK Government and other national and international stakeholders in implementation of initiatives designed to minimise the global impact of disasters, particularly through the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
To achieve this, the function of UKADR is to represent the research community at government level in the UK and internationally and to bring researchers and practitioners together to share best practice and improve disaster risk research and its impact.