Event type:

In person

Date & time:

10 Aug 2026 - 14 Aug 2026

Disaster Risk Reduction Summer School

Join leading DRR experts for a five‑day summer school exploring why disasters are not natural, how human decisions drive risk, and what effective, accountable disaster reduction looks like.

About

Join us for this five-day summer school (10–14 August), hosted by UCL Risk & Disaster Reduction.

The overall theme of the summer school is ‘Disasters are not natural’. This perspective on catastrophes underlines that whilst some hazards may be natural and unavoidable, the resulting disasters are almost always shaped by human decisions and actions (or inactions).

The ‘No Natural Disasters’ (NND) concept builds on decades of work and research carried out by disaster risk reduction (DRR) academics and practitioners. It also allows for a close integration of human-made climate change with DRR.

The aim of the summer school is to contribute to changing the way organisations, but also politicians and the media talk about disasters. It is essential that those holding power do not blame nature or use it as a convenient tool to avoid responsibility.

But the discussion goes beyond the need for a change of terminology. It requires a change of policies aimed at effectively reducing vulnerability, exposure and risk and ensuring that decision makers are held accountable for their decisions, when these increase the damage, loss and suffering associated with disasters.

During morning sessions lecturers will elaborate on different dimensions of the NND theme, introducing the topic, explaining how human (in)action turns natural hazards into disasters but also providing good practice examples of an NND approach.

Furthermore, the connections between hazards and global warming will be explained and the central concept of vulnerability will be elaborated on in detail. Specific attention will be paid to vulnerability reduction in particular contexts, such as urban settings and migration and displacement contexts, and on ways to promote inclusiveness of highly vulnerable groups.

On the last day participants will reflect on which obstacles institutions/individuals face when applying the NND approach and what they (and/or their organisations) need to do differently to improve the current DRR approaches.

In the afternoon sessions participants will be given the opportunity in break-out groups to present their own NND experiences through case studies and specific topics of their choice.

The DRR summer school

The first DRR summer school was organised by Oxford Brookes University and Banyaneer Consulting in July 2023. DRR pioneers Ian Davis, Terry Cannon, David Alexander, Maureen Fordham, and John Twigg shared their key insights based on their life-long DRR careers and discussed experiences with 32 participants from 16 countries.

Find out more information on the Oxford summer school and testimonies from the participants.

Important dates

Registration opens: Friday 1 May 2026
Registration closes: Tuesday 30 June 2026
Course starts: Monday 10 August 2026
Course ends: Friday 14 August 2026

Download the preliminary programme

View the draft schedule, sessions and activities planned for this year’s summer school.

View programme

Lecturers and facilitators

Terry Cannon smiles with glasses, a grey beard, and short hair, wearing a checkered shirt.

Professor Terry Cannon

Emeritus fellow

Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex

Terry Cannon is a long standing researcher and teacher in development studies, focusing on rural livelihoods, disaster vulnerability and climate change adaptation. He is co-author of the widely cited book At Risk. He recently taught on the Climate Change, Development and Policy MSc at the Institute of Development Studies. He has also taught at King’s College London, the University of Copenhagen and universities in Belgium.

Kevin Blanchard

Director

DRR Dynamics

Kevin Blanchard is a policymaker, trainer and advocate specialising in inclusive disaster risk reduction. He leads the global #NoNaturalDisasters campaign and directs DRR Dynamics, focusing on the inclusion of marginalised groups in DRR. With 14+ years’ experience, he works with governments, UN bodies and NGOs. He also sits on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Disaster Studies, runs disaster‑focused social media platforms and hosts the #DRRLive seminar series.

Dr Bayes Ahmed

Associate Professor in Risk and Disaster Science

UCL Risk & Disaster Reduction

Bayes Ahmed’s research focuses on disaster risk reduction, conflict and migration, climate change adaptation, community vulnerability and disaster displacement. He specialises in the intersection of conflict and disaster, working closely with frontline communities to develop practical, needs‑driven policy recommendations. His background spans GIS, remote sensing, AI, research methods and social statistics, with a PhD in DRR from UCL.

Bruno Haghebaert smiles wearing metal frame glasses and a dark brown beard.

Dr Bruno Haghebaert

Independent Consultant

Bruno has worked across academia, the UN and the Red Cross Movement on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and humanitarian policy. His career includes roles with UNESCO, the Belgian Red Cross, ProVention Consortium and the Netherlands Red Cross, as well as senior positions at IFRC and GNDR. He holds a PhD in DRR and now undertakes consultancies for organisations including UNDRR and USAID.

Alexandros Tsakiridis

Editor

PreventionWeb

Alex Tsakiridis is a disaster risk reduction specialist who curates clear, actionable insights for practitioners. He has worked on resilience projects in South Asia and Central Africa, focusing on translating complex risk information into practical guidance. His background includes disaster risk management training and a Master’s degree from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in India.

Namrata Bhattacharya smiles in a patterned blouse outdoors, surrounded by lush greenery.

Dr Namrata Bhattacharya

Associate Professor in Disaster Risk and Resilience

University of Chester

Namrata Bhattacharya specialises in flood risk management, nature‑based solutions and climate resilience. Her work uses living labs and knowledge co‑creation, valuing indigenous and local knowledge in solution‑building. She leads projects in the UK and the Global South, focusing on small catchments and community‑driven planning. Through participatory methods and digital tools, she strengthens resilience and inclusive decision‑making under climate extremes.

Venue

The summer school will take place at Bentham House (4-8 Endsleigh Gardens, London, WC1H 0EG). It is home to the UCL Faculty of Laws and located in the heart of London.

Find directions to Bentham House.

Room: The meeting room is 221 Hong Kong Alumni Room.

Accommodation

UCL offers affordable but basic accommodation (student rooms) during the summer period. Find out more and book accommodation here.

Three summer residences (some ensuite, others with shared bathrooms) are in the immediate neighbourhood of the venue:

John Adams Hall

15–23 Endsleigh Street, London WC1H 0DP.
1‑minute walk to Bentham House (210 ft).

Schafer House

168–182 Drummond Street, London NW1 3HZ.
12‑minute walk to Bentham House (0.5 miles).

John Tovell House

89, 93–97 Gower Street, London WC1E 6AP.
9‑minute walk to Bentham House (0.4 miles).

We recommend you to check the online reviews on the residences concerned first before booking. Also, only book the UCL accommodation when you have been notified that the summer school will go ahead.

Some hotel chains do not appear on Booking.com or similar platforms and must be booked directly through their own websites. This includes Premier Inn and Travelodge.

If you are considering these options, please note:

Premier Inn has several locations near St Pancras and King’s Cross. Room rates are typically comparable to those listed on major booking platforms. Flexible cancellation options may be available on certain room types.
Travelodge also offers centrally located hotels that can be booked directly.

When comparing accommodation, it may be helpful to check:

whether the building has air conditioning (not all older properties do)
whether a lift is available, if required
recent reviews regarding noise levels, as some budget hotels are in older buildings with limited sound insulation

Restaurants: find a list of restaurants in the immediate proximity of UCL here.

This information is provided to help you make an informed choice. It is not an endorsement of any particular hotel, restaurant or brand.

Payment of the summer school fee is due upon registration. The fee does not include lunch or accommodation. Coffee, tea and water will be provided during the sessions.

Fee:

Early bird rate (until 30 May 2026): £450
Standard rate (from 1–30 June 2026): £500

Registrations will close on 30 June 2026 at 23:30 GMT.

Is there a minimum number of participants?
Yes, the summer school will only go ahead when a specific quorum of participants is reached. Participants will be informed as soon as this is the case.

In the unlikely case that there would not be sufficient registrations the already registered participants will be reimbursed. Reimbursement may take a maximum of 30 days.

Is there a maximum number of participants?
Yes, when 35 registrations are reached, registration will close.

Do I have to pay the full amount when booking?
Yes, full payment is due upon registration.

Do I need a UK visa or Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

You can use the UK government website to check if you need a UK visa. If so, we advise you to apply as soon as you have registered for the summer school.

Please contact Dr Bayes Ahmed for help obtaining a visa support letter from UCL. If your visa is denied, you will be reimbursed. As mentioned above, reimbursement may take a maximum of 30 days.

If you are an EU citizen, you need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival in the UK. You also need to bring your passport.

Will I receive a certificate?

Yes, you will be given a certificate of attendance on the last day of the summer school.

What is the cancellation policy?
UCL’s cancellation policy is as follows:

The customer is entitled to a full refund providing they cancel within 7 days of booking.
After 7 days of the booking date and up to 15 days before the start of the event the customer may cancel and is entitled to a refund of 80%.
If there are 14 days or less until the start of the event, the customer is still able to cancel, should they wish to, but they are not entitled to a refund.
If the customer books an event that is taking place in 14 days or less from the booking they can still cancel. But unlike point 1 above, where they are entitled to cancel for a full refund after 7 days of booking, they will no longer be entitled to a refund.