Everybody wins: bridging the gap between scientific and local communities

The world of science and technology has a lot to offer those affected by or responding to the risk of disasters. But producing and using knowledge about disaster risk is far from a straightforward process.

At-risk people and communities, humanitarian and development agencies and those with formal scientific and technological training are all producers and users of disaster risk knowledge – but with different ideas about what is useful or important information. The challenge is in bringing together this wealth of local and scientific knowledge to enable communities to become more resilient in the face of disasters. One crucial way of promoting dialogue and supporting decision making processes are participatory games and exercises.

This event will comprise debate, games and workshop demonstrations led by Emma Visman, author of Knowledge is power, a network paper on using science and technology to enhance community resilience through knowledge exchange. Together with those leading complementary initiatives to support more effective use of science within resilience building, including Dr Arame Tall from CCAFS and Professor Dominic Kniveton from the University of Sussex, we’ll run through interactive exercises such as ‘Telephone’ (reveals how early warning messages can become distorted and confusing through poor dissemination) and a scenario game that challenges decision making skills to determine the most essential disaster preparedness and response actions.

Speakers:

Dr Randolph Kent – Director of Humanitarian Futures Programme, King’s College London

Emma Visman – independent consultant to UK Met Office and Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London

Pablo Suarez – Associate Director for Research and Innovation, Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre (TBC)

Dr Arame Tall – Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) Climate Services, Global Coordinator and Champion

Dominic Kniveton – Professor of Climate Science and Society, University of Sussex

Chair:

Wendy Fenton – Humanitarian Practice Network Coordinator