Understanding Risk - Innovation in Disaster Risk Assessment

Concept:

What is risk? Can we measure it? If we understand it, can we manage it better? The Understanding Risk: Innovation in Disaster Risk Assessment conference will address these important questions. The event will explore best practices in a variety of topics ranging from open source risk modeling to community based risk assessments. New approaches in risk assessment will be showcased, focusing on technological developments and the benefits of inclusive partnerships.

Partners:

The event is sponsored by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the Knowledge Strategy Group (KSG), in partnership with the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN ISDR).

Additional partners include Google, Microsoft, Yahoo! and NASA for the Random Hacks of Kindness event and the Crisis Commons for DC Crisis Camp. Collaborative partners include: the Academy of Educational Development (AED), AIR – Worldwide, Deltares, the European Commission Joint Research Center (JRC), Evaluación de Riesgos Naturales (ERN), ImageCat, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the National Academies, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), OpenGeo, Ushahidi, and the Willis Research Network.

Audience:

Understanding Risk is open to government agencies, research institutions, multilateral organizations, private sector firms, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations involved in disaster risk assessment.

 Understanding Risk Conference Format:

Prior to the conference there will be a series of on-line discussions lead by experts in the field. These "Session Leads" will moderate discussions on the session topics (see list of sessions in attachments). Session Leads will chose 3-5 panelists from the online community to present their work at the conference in June. Visit http://understandrisk.org/ for more information.