The course examines the connection between natural hazard events and disaster occurrences in the Asia-Pacific region; the socio-economic and political systems that cause variations on how people deal with, and are affected by, disasters that are brought about by hazard events; how natural hazards impinge on everyday life; the concepts of vulnerability, risk and resilience; how societal goals and priorities influence the vulnerability of different groups to a hazard event and disaster risk level; the role of livelihood and access to resources in adapting to short- and long-term impacts of natural hazards; and, the capacity of people and government to cope with disasters.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

a) explain the scope and rationale of the historical development of the theoretical approaches in hazards research and disaster studies;

b) evaluate the theoretical underpinnings of hazards research that were undertaken in the past and assess their usefulness and application in the institutionalisation of undertaking disaster studies and planning in the Asia-Pacific;

c) engage in strengthening their research capabilities and management skills in contextualising the human and spatial dimensions of disaster impacts in the short- and long-term periods.

Assessment will be based on:

-Attendance and participation in class discussions (10%)

-Presentation of summaries of journal articles (10%)

-Hazards and disaster research portfolio (20%)

-Class presentation of the research portfolio and annotated outline of the research paper (20%)

-Research paper of 4000 words (40%)

Alexander, D. (2000). Confronting Catastrophe. Oxford University Press, New York.

Anderson, M. B. andWoodrow, P.J. (1989). Rising from the Ashes. Development Strategies in Times of Disaster. Wesview Press, San Francisco. 

Blaikie, P.M., Cannon, T., Davis, I. and Wisner, B. (1994). At Risk: Natural Hazards, People's Vulnerability and Disasters. Routledge, London.

Hoffman, S.M. and Oliver-Smith, A. (2002). Catastrophe and Culture.  The Anthropology of Disaster. School of American Research Press, Santa Fe, New mexico. 

and other books and journal articles that will be provided on a detailed webpage of the course.