Disaster Risk Reduction

Climate change, globalization, urbanization, and increased interconnectedness between physical, human, and technological systems pose major challenges to disaster risk reduction (DRR). As a hub in the Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science (CNDS), Uppsala University coordinates a unique Swedish competence for studies of the nexus of natural hazards and social vulnerabilities with focus on DRR. The strength of the university builds on the combined knowledge within earth, engineering, and social sciences, where earth sciences are central.

A disaster takes place when a natural hazard e.g. flooding, volcanic eruption, or earthquake hits a vulnerable society. Today, most societies have efficient means to cope with disasters, e.g. through preparedness, mitigation and adaptation strategies, but they are also more vulnerable because of their dependence on complex societal and technological infrastructures. Since disasters are created through interactions between natural and social systems, coordinated research efforts are needed from earth-, social- and engineering sciences to assess DRR performance over time and minimize future disaster impacts.

Disaster risk reduction research at Uppsala University takes place within CNDS, a joint initiative by Uppsala University, Karlstad University and Swedish Defence University. Within Uppsala University, PhD students and researchers collaborate between earth-, engineering-, and social sciences. The main part of the scientific work is carried out by early career scientists, i.e. PhD students and postdocs.

More information: www.cnds.se

Contact:
Johanna Mård, CNDS Coordinator

Giuliano Di Baldassarre, CNDS Director