Young Scientists Event on Disaster Risk Reduction May 13th, UNESCO-IHE Delft, The Netherlands Organised by UNESCO-IHE and Deltares in collaboration with Delft University of Technology, University of Amsterdam, The Young Scientists Platform on DRR, UN Major Group of Children and Youth, The Water Youth Network and UNISDR
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Young Scientists Event on Disaster Risk Reduction · Rick Hogeboom University of Twente PhD Candidate Crinezza Veil Mendoza IHS, Erasmus University & University of the Philippines
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Young Scientists Event on Disaster
Risk Reduction May 13th, UNESCO-IHE Delft, The Netherlands
Organised by UNESCO-IHE and Deltares in collaboration with Delft University of Technology,
University of Amsterdam, The Young Scientists Platform on DRR, UN Major Group of Children and
Youth, The Water Youth Network and UNISDR
1
Introduction
This event brought together multi-disciplinary researchers, practitioners and students to jointly
identify the challenges for implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 -
2030 and the ways for young scientists to address these in future research.
The objectives of the event were to:
● Increase awareness among young scientists about Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction implementation
● Collate existing research knowledge on DRR within the water sector and identify research
gaps in relation to the Sendai Frameworks Priorities for Action
● Identify opportunities to continue multidisciplinary research by young scientists and early
career researchers
● Formulate input and support for the thematic groups under the Young Scientists Platform on
Disaster Risk Reduction being co-ordinated by UN Major Group for Children and Youth
The programme had a number of different components. To set the scene introductions were
provided on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 - 2030, the UNISDR Science
and Technology Partnership and The Young Scientists Platform on DRR. Next, four young scientists
presented their own research framed under one of the Priorities for Action of the Sendai Framework.
These presentations set the stage for four interactive breakout sessions on the following related
topics;
1. Priority for Action 1: Understanding Disaster Risk
2. Priority for Action 2: Disaster Risk Governance
3. Priority for Action 3: Investing in resilience: Eco-DRR
4. Priority for Action 4: Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build
Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction: Early Warning
During these breakouts the following questions were addressed:
1. How is this topic addressed in DRR policy?
2. What are the key research developments and partners on this topic?
3. What are the existing research gaps?
4. How can young scientists contribute to filling the gap?
The facilitators pre-prepared the answers to questions 1 and 2 and presented them to the
participants at the beginning of the session. The interactive part of the session involved collecting
the research gaps and identifying how young scientists can contribute to filling the gaps. Upon
registration for the event, participants were asked to identify research gaps (question 3) and the
results were used by the facilitators to tailor the session. The summarised results are presented in
this document and the detailed programme can be seen on the following page.
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09:30 Introduction and welcome Chris Zevenbergen, UNESCO-IHE
09:40 Sendai Framework and the Science and Technology Partnership and Roadmap
Ms. Virginia Murray Vice Chair UNISDR STAG
09:50 Young Scientists Platform on DRR Annisa Triyanti, Focal point
10:00 The power of networks for DRR Ms Mansi Jasuja, President, Alumni International, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Young Scientists sharing good practices and challenges
10:10 Understanding disaster risk Shima Ebrahimi, TU Delft
10:20 Governance: An arena for disaster risk reduction Robert Sakic Trogrlic, Heriot Watt University
10:30 Eco-DRR: Building with Nature for sustainable water management solutions
Tim Busker, University of Utrecht
10:40 Young Expert Programme & water treatment in Nicaragua Bayardo Gonzalez, YEP and TU-Delft
11:00 Interactive breakout session
Understanding disaster risk (B3) Andreas Burzel, Deltares
Disaster risk governance (B2) Eric Chu, University of Amsterdam
Eco-DRR Investing in resilience (B6) Annisa Triyanti, University of Amsterdam
Preparedness and Early warning (B1) Lydia Cumiskey, Deltares
11:45 Feedback (5 mins per group)
12:10 Science-Policy Closing remarks Corsmas Goemans, Netherlands Ministry for Security and Justice
Adibtya Asyhari UNESCO IHE Student - MSc in Flood Risk Management
Jasmine Meredith
UNESCO-IHE Institute
for Water Education
Student (MSc in Environmental Science
and Technology)
Wouter
Linckleau
Arrienes TFA CEO
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Breakout 3: Eco-DRR - Investing in Resilience
Session Facilitators: Annisa Triyanti, (University of Amsterdam), Tim Busker (Utrecht University),
and Monica Altamirano (Deltares)
Contributing author: Martijn van Staveren (Wageningen University)
This breakout session aimed to understand the key elements and research gaps for Ecosystem-
based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) and identify ways to fill them. The diverse background of
participants ranging from natural to social science resulted in an interdisciplinary discussion on Eco-
DRR. The breakout identified four key elements to be addressed in Eco-DRR research, which are 1)
The concept of building with nature; 2) The economical perspective; 3) Governance issue; and 4)
Diversity of research topic within the Eco-DRR concept. More detailed elaboration on each key
element can be found in the table below.
Key element Research gaps Filling gaps
The concept of building with nature
● Building with nature is currently
perceived more as innovation and
project oriented term while prior to
industrialization, humans were initially
only working with nature
● The lack of best practices based on
local context
The need to perceive building with nature based on local practices, not merely as a constructed or project based concept
The economical perspective
● Cost benefit analysis is currently
developed, which can help us to make
better decisions but it is difficult to
measure the value of green
infrastructure. For example, what is the
benefit of walking in a green park after
a stressful day? It is difficult to give
value to this, and this is why decisions
are always made on the hard
infrastructure.
Develop better indicators to improve cost benefit analysis, including direct and indirect benefits Share information on best practices to understand the benefits of building with nature
Governance issue
● The old economy was governing the old
decisions on infrastructure, we are
pleading for a new economy to lead
decisions on infrastructure.
● Several parties are not always working
towards a common goal
Involve diverse actors in the governance effort, including local community, government, and private sectors
Diversity of research topics within Eco-DRR concept
● Research related to interdependent
components of the ecosystem such as
the connection between groundwater to
support ecosystem services and DRR
is not well explored.
There is a need to diversify research to cover of all types of ecosystem. The research is currently focusing on the coastal ecosystems such as mangrove and coral reef in protecting coastal area from flooding, tsunami, or storms.
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List of attendants
First name Last name Organisation Position
Flora Anvarifar TU Delft PhD candidate
Martijn van Staveren Wageningen University PhD candidate
Hugo de Rijke Deltares/Wageningen UR Research Intern
● Developing risk assessments and maps that include hazard, exposure and vulnerability information at different scales in an understandable way for users
● The best mechanisms to involve different local authorities and citizens in data collection and risk assessments
● How to ensure ownership and use of the risk assessments by the relevant government agencies, different sectors and NGOs.
● Systematic collection of flood hazard (inundation) and impact (damages, loss of life) information so it can be used to update risk assessments
Field based research to evaluate the best approaches to communicate risk assessments Investigate how to improve (participatory) data collection and make it more open and accessible
Monitoring and Warning
● Connecting the risk information to the forecasting information to deliver more meaningful warnings
● Ensuring real-time data availability from a reliable hydro-meteorological monitoring network
● Limited lead times for warnings due to the long computational time of models
● How to maximise the use of citizen data from social media for real time monitoring
● Lack of educational programs for meteorologists and forecasters
● Limited use of indigenous knowledge as part of the warning generation process
Develop tools and processes for integrating risk/impact and real-time information Research methods to optimise the efficiency of the forecast and warning process and ways to integrate indigenous knowledge
Communication and dissemination
● How to ensure the right governance structures and standard operating procedures are in place to ensure clears roles and responsibilities for warning generation and dissemination
● Lack of understanding of why people don’t listen to warnings or follow the given instructions
● Lack of understanding on how to maximise social media as a warning communication channel
● How to reach everyone especially immigrants and tourists who are not familiar with the situation/warnings, physical environment, language, etc.
Conduct research on how to improve flood warning interpretation and response, and the most effective warning dissemination channels from national to local levels Research on specific recipient groups who are less familiar with warnings
Response capabilities
● Difficult to increase and maintain awareness and education among communities on flood warning interpretation and response (e.g. engaging youth in schools)
● Lack of understanding of the local needs and cultures when designing warning systems
● Evaluating the benefits warnings after events
Evaluate the benefits of early warning in various countries globally Document the value of community participation for effective early warning
Acknowledgements A big thank you to all the organisers and supporters for making this event a huge success in bringing together our young scientists working on DRRR. We look forward to continuing engagement with you all!