Three innovative entries from around Australia have been selected for the inaugural Disaster Challenge, each demonstrating new research approaches to address the wicked problem of engaging with the unengaged or hard to reach during natural hazard emergencies.
The Disaster Challenge is a national callout to early career researchers and postgraduates, to encourage new ideas, new thinking and new research that addresses some of the country’s most urgent and wicked natural hazard questions.
The challenge pitched to researchers and their teams in April was ‘to engage a transient sector of the community with disaster preparation information’.
Meet the three entries whose solutions have been selected to progress to the next phase:
- ‘Mobilising local culturally and linguistically diverse stakeholders and gatekeepers for disaster response’ – from Jyoti Khatri K C and Mohammed Alqahtani (Queensland University of Technology).
- ‘Tourist and tourism worker education via wifi-activated captive portals’ – from Mark Owens (CFA) and Dr Kamarah Pooley (Fire and Rescue NSW).
- ‘Beacon of hope’ – from Jane Toner, Sheridan Keegan, Ahmed Qasim, Lynn Lue-Kopman, Winty Wang, Manori Dissanayaka (Griffith University) and Cris Hernandez-Santin (RMIT University).
With many thought-provoking submissions received, these three stood out to the judging panel for their innovation, adaptability, affordability and scalability.
The three finalists will now receive mentoring and other support from Natural Hazards Research Australia and its working group of Queensland universities and emergency management organisations to take their idea to the next level.
All three final concepts will be showcased at the Disaster Challenge Final in Brisbane on 13 October – the UN International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction – as part of Natural Hazards Research Australia’s first annual conference.
The Disaster Challenge Final will be a public event, so sign up to our newsletter or keep your eyes peeled on the Natural Hazards Research Australia social media platforms for more information about registration.