The course will cover the most frequent hazard and historical disaster events in the Asia-Pacific; study the characteristics of people who are vulnerable and primarily at risk, such as their age, class, gender, location, and allotted spaces for representation; examine the approach and policy on disaster mitigation and capacity of government systems and societies in the region to cope with the disasters; and, investigate on the international responses to disasters that are present in the region.

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

a) explain the human conditions that are associated with the repeated and cyclical occurrences of hazards and disasters in the Asia-Pacific;

b) build and compare data bases on the socio-economic, political, cultural and locational characteristics of peoples and places that are frequently affected by hazards and disasters, and their corresponding adaptation and coping mechanisms and strategies;

c) engage in undertaking policy analysis across a broad array of institutional responses that are taken by local and national governments and domestic and international organizations; and

d) evaluate and appraise the suitability of different theoretical underpinnings, research methodologies and practical applications in undertaking hazards research and disaster management programs in the Asia-Pacific.

Assessment will be based on:

-Attendance and participation in class discussions (10%);

-Presentation of summaries of journal articles (10%)

-Disaster research portfolio (20%)

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

-Research paper of 4000 words (40%)

HGEO8001 Thinking about Hazards and People

EMSC8706 Introduction to Natural Hazards

Glade, T. Albini, P., and France, F. (eds.). (2001). The Use of Historical Data in Natural Hazards Assessments. Kluwer Publishers, London. 

Hodgkinson, P.E. and M. Stewart. (1998). Coping with Catastrophe. A Handbook of Post-Disaster Psychosocial Aftercare, 2^nd ed. Routledge, New York.  

Kent. R.C. (1987). Anatomy of Disaster Relief.  The International Network in Action. Piner Publishers, New York.

Stoltman, J.P., Lidstone, J., and De Chano,  L. M. (eds.) (2004). International Perspectives on Natural Disasters. Occurrence, Mitigation, and Consequences. Kluwer Academic Publishers, London. 

Terry, J.P. (2007). Tropical Cyclones. Climatology and Impacts in the Pacific. Springer, New York. 

Wells, A.J., Walker, C. and Walker, T. (2007). Disaster Recovery. Principles and Practices. Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle, New Jersey.

Wilhite, D. (ed.). (2005). Drought and Water Crises. Science, Technology, and Management Issues. Taylor and Francis, Singapore.

Plus other books and journal articles which will be posted on a website for this course.