Combined Dealing with Disasters, UK Alliance for Disaster Research, Disasters
Research Group and UK Collaborative for Development Research, 2019
DwD-UKADR-DRG-UKCDR International Conference, 2019
17th, 18th and 19th July, 2019 at Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

New points of departure in transitioning disaster reduction andsustainability challenges
The conference will examine current advances and future research needs. It is aimed at all those engaged
in dealing with disasters through research and allied areas of education, policy and practice.
Coming soon after the United Nations Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in May 2019 and aheadof the next Climate Summit in September 2019, this event is to enlighten progressive research driven
actions. The underlying area of inquiry will address new points of departure for science and technology,
political will and behaviour change initiatives. It asks which systemic changes to the way people live withand take on disaster threats and sustainability challenges build momentum to survive and to thrive?
Linked also to the Resilience portfolio of the UKs Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) the occasion
combines the 12th Dealing with Disasters (DwD) and 3rd UK Alliance of Disaster Research (UKADR)Conferences, Disaster Research Group (DRG) and UK Collaborative for Development Research (UKCDR) in
examining current advances and future research needs. The Dealing with Disasters series associated with
the Disaster and Development Network (DDN) at Northumbria began in 2006 and has been hosted byvarious UK and non-UK partners in the UK, Africa and Asia.
The UK Alliance for Disaster Research (UKADR), chaired during this phase by Northumbria and King’s
College London, has institutional membership across UK academia emerging as an initiative to; support UK
government commitments to the Sendai Framework; enable smart, rapid response to international
emergencies; and to inform the wider sustainable development and disaster risk reduction policy process.
As an alliance of the UK based research community it facilitates collaboration and partnership, advocates
UK science to UK Government, UKRI and practice partners, providing a mechanism for the UK researchcommunity. It is independent, being not owned by a discipline or any existing network, though hasrecognition and shared objectives with other initiatives such as for example the Global Alliance of Disaster
Research (GADRI) currently hosted by Kyoto University, International Science Council (ISC) Integrated
Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) and the United Nations ISDR Science and Technology Platform. Previous
UKADR conferences have been hosted by Kings College London and Bristol Universities.
This year’s combined event is also to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Disasters Research Group (DRG).
The DRG convenes quarterly to bring together UK government agencies including DFID, Cabinet Office,UKRI, GCRF, the Royal Society, humanitarian actors such as ELRHA and international research interests that
include ISC-IRDR and IPCC. One of the objectives is therefore to provide a networking opportunity for UK
science funding on ODA focused work. The UKADR and DRG are sister organisations for UK interests in bothindustrialised and ODA countries. UKADR partnering with DRG and UK Collaborative for Development
Research has steered new research grant programming. Whilst the focus of the event hosted by
Northumbria is both UK and globally orientated, this is an opportunity for bringing together research
funders, research users and the UK research community focussed on ODA relevant risk, resilience andsustainability research.
The call:Multiple examples of practical local level attempts to address disaster risk and sustainability have been well
represented to date across the many institutions networked within the organisations of this event. This
reflects a wide range of research, policy and practice ideas influential in the UK and globally, with some ofthe excellent examples being celebrated and learnt. However, an expansive array of challenges demand
greater and more urgent transitions into safer, more interconnected and valued relationships if local
progress on future global goals are to the achieved and improved upon to the extent required.
We welcome wide ranging inputs that may variously contribute to advancing sciences, arts, policy orpractice inside or outside of academia in engaging challenges of disaster risk reduction and sustainability.
Contributions will variously bridge research findings, reflection and conjecture on what has and still can bedone. Debate and empirically informed guidance will assist in bringing more impactful investment andinform a next generation of disaster management and sustainability research. The event is structured
around both panel discussions and presentations.
Potential panel and presentation topics may relate to the following, though those related to other themes
can be also considered:••••••••••••••••••
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Influencing future investment and research funding
Building the funder – researcher dynamic in the context of Global Challenges
Horizon scanning and living with uncertainty
Case studies of engagement and impact of DRR for sustainable development
Framing global risk assessment
Action data
Health and well-being at the heart of DRR and sustainable development
Health emergency and disaster risk management
Risk communication
The youth voice for DRR
Modelling simulated risks and effects
Measuring community resilience
Confronting vulnerability and marginalisation
Disaster proofing future living
Integrated emergency management
Climate change and disasters
Disasters and global justiceSociology of disasters and development
Culture and disasters
Urban planning and resilience
Conflict and disaster risk reduction
Hazard mitigation
Early warning, early action and precautionary approaches
Recovery and rehabilitation
Other areas (please specify)

Abstracts for individual papers will either align to those in the list of suggested themes or newly proposedthemes.
Applicants are invited to propose panels through an abstract of between 300 and 500 words and individual
papers through an abstract of between 200 and 300 words. Send these to sz.dwdconf@northumbria.ac.uk
clearly stating the title.
If selected by the conference committee there will be a chance to further refine abstracts before release
into the event.
Key Dates:
Registration open – by 10th April.
Submit panel and paper proposals – by 30th April, 2019.
Acceptance of panel and paper proposals – by 20th May.
Early registration rate ends 31st May.
Draft programme – by 15th June.
Final programme – 30th June.
Conference – 17th-19th July.
Conference report – late August / early September.
Conference Web Site: www.northumbria.ac.uk/dwd2019
More information about the UK Alliance for Disaster Research: www.ukadr.org
More information about the UK Collaborative for Development Research: www.ukcdr.org.uk
More information about Northumbria University: www.northumbria.ac.uk/ddn

Fees:
Full (3 days): £70
Full, early registration (3 days): £60 - closes 31st May
Daily: £40
Student (3 days): £30
Student, early registration (3 days): £20
Student daily: £15
Conference dinner in the Great Hall (optional): £35
Fees include morning and afternoon refreshments and light lunch each day.