UCL Department for Risk and Disaster Reduction reconfirmed as an International Centre of Excellence

Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) is an international scientific programme cosponsored by the International Science Council and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. The mission of the IRDR is to mobilise science for the reduction of all types of disaster risk, building resilience, and reducing vulnerability by integrating risk science with climate change adaptation and mitigation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We are proud to be the only institute in the UK to gain such recognition. This is doubly welcome news as RDR becomes one of a select group of research centres to have been awarded this accolade for two terms running.  

The ‘London ICoE’ was first established in 2014 as a collaboration between UCL, King’s College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Recognising the growth of UCL’s science leadership in disaster studies centred around the Department for Risk and Disaster Reduction the 2025 reconfirmed award is made specifically to the RDR.

The ICoE family brings together internationally leading centres with specific expertise. RDR’s focus is on Risk Interpretation and Action. This recognises our interdisciplinary and action oriented mission for teaching as well as research. The award opens exciting new opportunities to partner with other ICoEs and the wider family of national centres, early career researchers and global experts brought together by the international programme on Integrated Research on Disaster Reduction.