Conferences

Background to the APRU/ANU conference on 21 – 24 October 2018

The Australian National University is collaborating with the Association of Pacific Rim

Universities (APRU) to convene the international conference on Risk, Resilience and Reconstruction: Science and Governance for Effective Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery in Australia, Asia and the Pacific. The host school at ANU is the Research School of Earth Sciences (RSES), College of Science.

Professor Helen James, College of Asia Pacific and Director of the IRDR ICoE for Integrated Research on Disaster Risk Science is Co-Chairing with Professor Phil Cummins, RSES. This is an integrated approach to the multiple and multi-disciplinary needs to achieve better societal and human outcomes from disasters. A cross-college approach involving many disciplines has been followed which is reflected in the participation of the organizing committee whose members come from the College of Science, ANU College of Law, College of Asia Pacific, and the College of Medicine and Health.

Some 92 papers are being presented from all over the world. Over 150 delegates will attend.

The conference is being held at University House, ANU in the Great Hall and adjacent meeting rooms. Vice Chancellor, Professor Brian Schmidt will open the conference and Mr Jamie Isbister, First Assistant Secretary Humanitarian, NGOs and Partnerships Division has accepted our invitation to speak at the opening of the conference. APRU representatives will also be present.

The aims and background of the conference, situate it in new approaches to achieving more effective Disaster Risk Reduction practices. A number of humanitarian agencies including the Australian Red Cross and the Samoan Red Cross will also be present.

This conference is an important contribution to DRR theory and practice globally.

Aims of the Conference

This Multi-Hazards APRU conference aims to open new horizons in disaster risk science which can contribute to better societal outcomes and better understanding of the intersecting dynamics of risk, resilience and reconstruction. In particular, it aims to:

1. Explore the benefits of taking a multi-disciplinary STEM – HASS perspective to new approaches to reducing the impact of disaster risk; building community and individual resilience; and improving the effectiveness of risk communication;
2. Develop better understanding of the significance of stakeholder and community engagement, and concomitant policy imperatives;
3. Engage with future risk through better support to decision makers at the cutting edge of resilience and vulnerability reduction initiatives;
4. Examine the benefits of disaster education, use of digital technologies and outreach programs in translating disaster risk policy into practical investments in societal sustainability.
5. Explore the need to develop theoretical frameworks which integrate quantitative data from science, policy and industry to build All-hazards, transdisciplinary bases for the comprehensive analysis of risk in diverse socio-cultural, ecological, and political environments.

http://rses.anu.edu.au/news-events/14th-apru-multi-hazards-symposium