GDRC publishes 2023 Annual Report

Global Disaster Resilience Centre publishes 2023 annual report

The Global Disaster Resilience Centre (GDRC) at the University of Huddersfield has published its Annual Report for 2023.

The report illustrates the essential role of GDRC's interdisciplinary research in tackling the complex problems associated with multi-hazard disaster risk. This was reaffirmed in May 2023, when Professors Dilanthi Amaratunga and Richard Haigh, Co-Directors of the Centre, contributed to the High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), held at the UN headquarters in New York.

This came eight years after the adoption of the SFDRR, which aimed to enhance understanding, governance, investment and preparedness for disasters at all levels. The Midterm Review was an opportunity for the international community, including scientists, to convene and assess progress on its implementation.

Key themes

Much of the research described in the 2023 report addresses key themes that emerged over the three days of the Midterm Review. This includes the impact of recent crises such as conflict and COVID; the use of data, science, and technology; localising early warning systems; the increasing role of nature-based and nature-informed solutions; the need for more multi-stakeholder involvement and collaboration; and the importance of cooperation between countries and communities.

Professor Amaratunga stresses that, "the team's research is not carried out in isolation. In 2023 we worked face to face and remotely with our 323 partners in 67 countries around the world."

GDRC projects, reports and talks publicise centre's research

The report documents that GDRC has been working on 13 funded research grants, including six that successfully completed in 2023. In delivering these, they have authored a large number of articles, including 11 peer reviewed journal papers and eight book chapters, delivered nine invited keynotes and talks as well as many more presentations at conferences in the UK and around the world.

Last year they also organised or were a partner in eight conferences and workshops. Most notably, in December 2023, some of the UK's leading experts in disaster research gathered at the University of Huddersfield for the 2023 UK Alliance for Disaster Research (UKADR) Conference to assess how the growing need to manage disaster risks effectively can be met.

Professor Richard Haigh and Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga during their visit to the United Nations in 2023.

The report also reveals the breath of their contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with their projects, outputs and events contributing to 15 of the 17 goals. Their ability to contributing to the SFDRR and other development agendas is facilitated by GDRC's close collaboration with 47 international organisations such as the UN. The report illustrates the team's commitment to co-produce their research with these organisations, as well as with groups from wider society, such as public policymakers, the community, third sector organisations and businesses.

Professor Haigh also emphasises the value in collaborating across the University, strengthening links with other disciplines.

"GDRC now has members across three Schools at the University of Huddersfield: Applied Sciences, the Business School, and Arts and Humanities.

"We are also exploring links to the University's other research centres, such as its Centre for Biomimetic Societal Futures, and the renowned Huddersfield Institute of Railway Research."

The 2023 Annual Report reflects the collective effort of over 30 team members and documents their wide-ranging contributions across a range of research themes and projects. It contains details of the Centre's 2023 activities, outputs and outcomes, including an overview of current research themes and projects; appointments to national/international organisations, committees and strategic advisory bodies; international collaborations, events, achievements and awards, global research impact, publications; as well as education and training.

The GDRC 2023 Annual Report is available to read online.