Research and Best Practices for Disasters Yet to Come: Preparedness and Mitigation amid Global Disasters

Research and Best Practices for Disasters Yet to Come: Preparedness and Mitigation amid Global Disasters

Regular Session: Maximum of Five 20-minute Presentations

The nature of disasters and disaster social science research is rapidly evolving to include coupled crises that trigger more crises. The question is not whether a crisis will happen but when and how the crisis will be handled. In an effort to foster resilience and mitigate against disruptions, disasters, or crises, social scientists have a unique opportunity to inform local, regional, and global preparedness and mitigation strategies to avert catastrophe posed by the fires, tsunamis, earthquakes, avalanches, drought, famine, earthquakes or pandemics yet to come. Given the nature of our research and ability to analyze best practices across multiple disciplines, Disaster Social Science has the ability to impact decision-makers and policy changes to integrate best practices into policy formation processes in a way that promotes a more equitable and sustainable society. Disaster Social Science offers scholars a chance to collaborate with decision-makers and facilitate the reconceptualization of community-level preparedness and mitigation efforts. Research presented in this session will focus on how social scientific research yields policy recommendations for decision-makers on local, regional, and/or the national level.