Putting science into practice for improved disaster resilience
This snapshot will explore experience and learning about bringing together institutions and individuals from across three “pillars” - social sciences, physical sciences, and disaster risk management practitioners - to achieve successful applied research for disaster resilience and response.
To understand disasters and their effects, and to be able to generate useful knowledge to reduce their impacts, we need to understand a range of topics, including the physical characteristics of the hazard, the social aspects of human behaviour, and contextual knowledge. Social sciences, physical sciences, and disaster risk management practitioners within the SHEAR programme all bring a vital component to addressing natural hazards and risks (see figure below). By combining the insights, experiences, tools, and knowledge that all three pillars bring, research can provide useful knowledge and appropriate solutions to tackle the challenges faced when dealing with disasters.