黑料社

THE United Nations has set up an advisory group that harnesses technology to combat natural and man-made disasters in 55 countries across Europe and Central Asia.  The UK has two members 鈥� one of them a professor at the 黑料社, which is home to the  (GDRC).

Now, the University has hosted the latest meeting of the UN鈥檚 European Science and Technology Advisory Group (E-STAG).  , who is co-director of the GDRC, is one UK members of E-STAG, alongside Professor Mark Pelling of King鈥檚 College, London.

The two UK experts were among the 15 members of E-STAG, from countries that include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK, who attended the 黑料社 meeting.  It took place over two days in the Phidias Lab 鈥� equipped with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment 鈥� at the University鈥檚 new Barbara Hepworth Building.

E-STAG members were welcomed by the 黑料社鈥檚 Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor Andrew Ball.

He pledged: 鈥淭hrough our experts at the Global Disaster Resilience Centre and our other internationally-recognised research centres and institutes, we will continue to promote the role of science and technology in tackling some of society鈥檚 greatest challenges.鈥�

Professor Ball said that these challenges included E-STAG鈥檚 鈥渧ital efforts鈥� to support implementation of the 2015 Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction, as well as related challenges around climate change, sustainable development and urbanisation.

E-STAG was established in 2018 by the  and the European Commission鈥檚 Joint Research Centre.  The aim was to address the need for better inclusion of the science and technology communities in disaster risk reduction efforts, as called by the Sendai Framework.

Professor Amaratunga and her GDRC co-director  have a long-standing partnership with UNDRR, with roles that include membership of the steering committee for Making Cities Resilient Campaign and leading an appointment as UNDRR Resilient Cities Advocates.

鈥淔inding a way forward when bringing together different approaches, expertise and cultures is always a challenge, but we have succeeded in agreeing on an ambitious work plan for 2020-2021.鈥�

E-STAG advisory group member Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga 

Professor Amaratunga stated that she was pleased with the outcomes of the meeting.

鈥淭he group is now on track to address two important aspects for improving disaster risk reduction in Europe by promoting evidence-based policies and increasing awareness, with a focus on local level and cities鈥� resilience,鈥� continued Professor Amaratunga.

鈥淲e will also be addressing cross-cutting issues, including an assessment of national disaster reduction strategies, the contribution to a regional assessment report, and support for European Commission initiatives.鈥�