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The UCL Warning Research Centre opens at the IRDR 11th Annual Conference

24 June 2021

The world’s first research centre devoted to the study of warnings has formally launched

Ilan Kelman and Mami Mizutori

A new research centre, the world’s only one devoted to the study of warnings, was formally launched at the UCL Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction 11th Annual Conference on 23 June 2021.

The Warning Research Centre brings together global expertise to explore the role of warnings in managing vulnerabilities, hazards, risks, and disasters. The focus is to prevent adverse disaster impacts through improved warnings.

Founded and led by Dr Carina Fearnley, with the IRDR’s Professor Ilan Kelman as Deputy Director, the Warning Research Centre sits within the Department of Science and Technology Studies at University College London. It brings together expertise already established at UCL with warning expertise at universities globally to work with businesses, government, non-governmental, and intergovernmental organisations to address the growing need for effective warning and alert systems via cutting-edge research, policy guidance, applications, and collaborative expertise. 

Screenshot of Mami Mizutori speaking at the conference
The launch was part of a conference dedicated to exploring warnings, and why they matter. In her keynote speech, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR Mami Mizutori said the Centre’s launch was great example of a whole-society approach.

“The Centre explicitly brings together not just researchers but also practitioners, policymakers, media, the public and importantly will guide the next generation of students who will be adding their creativity, urgency, intelligence and energy to some of the thorniest challenges of our time,” she explained.

“On behalf of UNDRR, I am pleased to welcome the UCL Warning Research Centre to the rich network of organisations and individuals seeking to change the way we create safer and more resilient communities.”

The Centre will hold a further online event on 30 June as part of the launch. Focused on ‘What Warnings Mean?’, the event will explore the history and social-cultural meanings of warnings, visual representations of warnings, and putting warning policy and communication into practice by bringing together diverse global expertise. More details can be found on the UCL Warning Research Centre website.

Read more about the launch and the Annual Conference in this blog by Professor Kelman.

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