Disaster Risk Reduction Summer School 2026
Join leading DRR experts for a five‑day summer school exploring why disasters are not natural, how human decisions drive risk, and what effective, accountable disaster reduction looks like.
About
Join us for this five-day summer school (10–14 August), hosted by UCL Risk & Disaster Reduction.
The overall theme of the summer school is ‘Disasters are not natural’. This perspective on catastrophes underlines that whilst some hazards may be natural and unavoidable, the resulting disasters are almost always shaped by human decisions and actions (or inactions).
The ‘No Natural Disasters’ (NND) concept builds on decades of work and research carried out by disaster risk reduction (DRR) academics and practitioners. It also allows for a close integration of human-made climate change with DRR.
The aim of the summer school is to contribute to changing the way organisations, but also politicians and the media talk about disasters. It is essential that those holding power do not blame nature or use it as a convenient tool to avoid responsibility.
But the discussion goes beyond the need for a change of terminology. It requires a change of policies aimed at effectively reducing vulnerability, exposure and risk and ensuring that decision makers are held accountable for their decisions, when these increase the damage, loss and suffering associated with disasters.
During morning sessions lecturers will elaborate on different dimensions of the NND theme, introducing the topic, explaining how human (in)action turns natural hazards into disasters but also providing good practice examples of an NND approach.
Furthermore, the connections between hazards and global warming will be explained and the central concept of vulnerability will be elaborated on in detail. Specific attention will be paid to vulnerability reduction in particular contexts, such as urban settings and migration and displacement contexts, and on ways to promote inclusiveness of highly vulnerable groups.
On the last day participants will reflect on which obstacles institutions/individuals face when applying the NND approach and what they (and/or their organisations) need to do differently to improve the current DRR approaches.
In the afternoon sessions participants will be given the opportunity in break-out groups to present their own NND experiences through case studies and specific topics of their choice.
The DRR summer school
The first DRR summer school was organised by Oxford Brookes University and Banyaneer Consulting in July 2023. DRR pioneers Ian Davis, Terry Cannon, David Alexander, Maureen Fordham, and John Twigg shared their key insights based on their life-long DRR careers and discussed experiences with 32 participants from 16 countries.
Find out more information on the Oxford summer school and testimonies from the participants .
Important dates
Registration opens: Friday 1 May 2026
Registration closes: Tuesday 30 June 2026
Course starts: Monday 10 August 2026
Course ends: Friday 14 August 2026
Download the preliminary programme
View the draft schedule, sessions and activities planned for this year’s summer school.
Lecturers and facilitators
Professor Terry Cannon, Emeritus fellow, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex
Terry Cannon is a long standing researcher and teacher in development studies, focusing on rural livelihoods, disaster vulnerability and climate change adaptation. He is co-author of the widely cited book At Risk. He recently taught on the Climate Change, Development and Policy MSc at the Institute of Development Studies. He has also taught at King’s College London, the University of Copenhagen and universities in Belgium.
Kevin Blanchard, Director, DRR Dynamics
Kevin Blanchard is a policymaker, trainer and advocate specialising in inclusive disaster risk reduction. He leads the global #NoNaturalDisasters campaign and directs DRR Dynamics, focusing on the inclusion of marginalised groups in DRR. With 14+ years’ experience, he works with governments, UN bodies and NGOs. He also sits on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Disaster Studies, runs disaster‑focused social media platforms and hosts the #DRRLive seminar series.
Dr Bayes Ahmed, Associate Professor in Risk and Disaster Science, UCL Risk & Disaster Reduction
Bayes Ahmed’s research focuses on disaster risk reduction, conflict and migration, climate change adaptation, community vulnerability and disaster displacement. He specialises in the intersection of conflict and disaster, working closely with frontline communities to develop practical, needs‑driven policy recommendations. His background spans GIS, remote sensing, AI, research methods and social statistics, with a PhD in DRR from UCL.
Dr Bruno Haghebaert, Independent Consultant
Bruno has worked across academia, the UN and the Red Cross Movement on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and humanitarian policy. His career includes roles with UNESCO, the Belgian Red Cross, ProVention Consortium and the Netherlands Red Cross, as well as senior positions at IFRC and GNDR. He holds a PhD in DRR and now undertakes consultancies for organisations including UNDRR and USAID.
Alex Tsakiridis, Editor, PreventionWeb
Alex Tsakiridis is a specialist in Disaster Risk Reduction currently serving as an Editor for PreventionWeb, the global platform for DRR. In this role, he curates high-quality resources for practitioners and translates complex disaster risk information into clear, actionable insights. Previously, Alex worked in South Asia and Central Africa on resilience-building projects. He holds a Master’s degree in disaster risk management from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India.
Dr Namrata Bhattacharya, Associate Professor in Disaster Risk and Resilience, University of Chester
Namrata Bhattacharya specialises in flood risk management, nature‑based solutions and climate resilience. Her work uses living labs and knowledge co‑creation, valuing indigenous and local knowledge in solution‑building. She leads projects in the UK and the Global South, focusing on small catchments and community‑driven planning. Through participatory methods and digital tools, she strengthens resilience and inclusive decision‑making under climate extremes.