Karen and John Huff School Chair Dr. Reginald DesRoches was one of a handful of global experts asked to speak at the Global Risk Forum’s 4th Conference on Community Resiliency 2013, held in Davos, Switzerland at the end of last month.
The theme for this year’s conference, “Building Resiliency into Critical Infrastructure: International Goals, National Strategies, Local Actions” attracted professionals, academics, and researchers from a wide variety of disciplines, including representatives from the United Nations, the World Bank, the Swiss Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Research Council.
DesRoches talk, “Disaster Resilience: Scientific and Research Gaps Resilience Research” explored areas that deserve further emphasis in resilience research, including improved vulnerability models, increased use of remote sensor technology, improved data management, and an increased use of citizens as information gatherers.
“The issue of resilience to natural and man-made hazards will be one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century,” says DesRoches. “This workshop was a unique opportunity to bring together a diverse group of experts to begin thinking about approaches to developing measures for community resilience.”