The Earthquake Engineering Research Centers are good examples of the multi-disciplinary approach. Another indicator of success is the inclusion of social scientists even in private firms, where they engage in multi-disciplinary projects. Diversity is another area of some improvement over the last 25 years. There used to be few women researchers in the field, but now, at least in terms of NSF funding during the past five years, there has been near parity between women and men. Still, there is a significant absence of ethnic minority researchers, particularly African Americans and Hispanics.
Leadership remains a strength of the hazards research field.
Twenty-five years ago the Disaster Research Center played a leading role, as it still does. The Natural Hazards Center was born 25 years ago and it continues to exert leadership in the field to this day. New organizations have also come on the scene to provide needed leadership, including the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center. The field is blessed in that some of its pioneers are still exceptionally active including, among others , E.L. Quarantelli, Russell Dynes, and Gilbert White. Funding for university-based disaster research is still primarily provided by the NSF, although FEMA and other federal agencies such as U. S. Geological Survey and the National Institute of Mental Health also provide some support.