Is an asteroid impact a disaster? What about a bee swarm? Can I ask a friend to help me? My postgrad experience is in brain surgery – can I still enter? Is ‘wicked’ good or bad? Don’t panic! We are here to help. Natural Hazards Research Australia hosted an online briefing on 25 May to answer all your questions about the Disaster Challenge. No question is too silly.
What is the Disaster Challenge?
The Disaster Challenge is a national challenge to encourage new ideas, new thinking and new research. The Challenge is calling out to early career researchers and postgraduate students across Australia to submit their innovative ideas and solutions for the wicked problems we are facing with natural hazards. For this Challenge, the wicked problem is: How can disaster preparation engage with the unengaged, the moving or the hard to reach?
The briefing
An online briefing was held on 25 May at 4pm AEST for anyone interested in participating in the Challenge or learning more. The briefing featured researchers and other experts in disaster management sharing current research and knowledge that related to this specific wicked problem, as well as Q&A about the Challenge process.
Speakers:
- Dr John Bates, Natural Hazards Research Australia
- Dr Josh Whittaker, New South Wales Rural Fire Service
- A/Prof Michelle Villeneuve, University of Sydney
- A/Prof Andrew Taylor, Charles Darwin University
A recording will be made available afterwards at www.disasterchallenge.com.au.