IDRiM Podcast

Background: Dr. Dimitrios Tzioutzios is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, working in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering within the RAMS research group. His research focuses on technological risk, community resilience, and sustainable energy systems, with particular interest in Natech accidents, risk communicati...

Background: This episode celebrates three of the top winners from last year’s YSS competition. We discuss their research, how it has developed over the past year, the benefits they received from winning the award, and their tips for this year’s participants. Guests: Mr. Pritam Ghosh [University of Twente, Netherlands] Dr. Haris Rahadianto [Lund University, Sweden] Mr. Akihiro Suzuki [Hokkaido Univ...

Background to the Conference: The 15th International Conference of the Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRiM) Society (IDRiM2025), titled “Advancing disaster risk reduction in islands and remote areas”, highlights the distinct risk environments and multifaceted challenges faced by islands and remote areas. In this context, the conference places accessibility (physical, social, economic, insti...

Abstract: This paper discusses the multifaceted perceptions of climate change within the United Kingdom. Whilst the understanding of anthropogenic climate change has gained prominence in more recent decades, especially in relation to greenhouse gas processes, its conceptual roots can be traced back to ancient Greek observations. Today, climate change is recognised as a significant environmental, s...

Abstract: This paper discusses the multifaceted perceptions of climate change within the United Kingdom. Whilst the understanding of anthropogenic climate change has gained prominence in more recent decades, especially in relation to greenhouse gas processes, its conceptual roots can be traced back to ancient Greek observations. Today, climate change is recognised as a significant environmental, s...

Abstract: The emphasis of integrated disaster and risk research has shifted from topical analysis, such as dealing with natural hazard-related disasters, technological accidents, or environmental crises, to a comprehensive analysis of interconnected and mutually interactive risk sources and crises. This interaction has often been framed in the language of “polycrisis” indicating the potentially am...

Abstract: The emphasis of integrated disaster and risk research hasshifted from topical analysis, such as dealing with natural hazard-related disasters, technological accidents, or environmental crises, to a comprehensive analysis of interconnected and mutually interactive risk sources and crises. This interaction has often been framed in the language of “polycrisis” indicating the potentially amp...

Summary: In this concluding episode of the IDRiM Podcast’s GADRI2025 recap series, Ashley Parry sits down with Professor John van de Lindt, local host and Co-Director of the NIST-funded Center of Excellence for Risk-Based Community Resilience Planning, to reflect on a landmark summit held for the first time outside of Japan. The episode opens with a discussion of the significance of hosting GADRI...

Background: The UK Alliance for Disaster Research (UKADR) is a national network that brings together researchers, institutions, and stakeholders working on disaster risk, resilience, and reduction. It is an independent, voluntary alliance supported by contributions from academia, government agencies, civil society, think tanks, and research institutions that focus on disaster-related research in t...

Summary: Today's summit was rich with collaboration, regional insights, and forward-thinking conversations on disaster risk reduction. A key moment from the day was the presentation of regional alliance reports from across the globe, including North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, Africa, and the UK. Each shared their progress and challenges, underscoring the importance o...

In this episode, we dive into the highlights from Day 1 of the GADRI 2025 Summit, where global leaders, researchers, and policymakers gathered to explore innovative pathways toward disaster resilience. The conversation opened with a look at the vision driving this year’s summit, focusing on how GADRI continues to evolve as a platform for scientific collaboration, policy dialogue, and actionable st...

This week marks the 10th anniversary of GADRI and the 7th GADRI Global Summit. To commemorate this milestone, we will be running a series of episodes exploring various aspects of GADRI and discussing key developments taking place at this year’s summit. First established in March 2015 as an outcome of the 2nd Global Summit of Research Institutes for Disaster Risk Reduction, GADRI is a collaborative...

Summary: This episode highlights the work of U-INSPIRE Indonesia, a youth and young professional platform dedicated to integrating science, engineering, technology, and innovation (SETI) into disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate resilience efforts. The discussion explores how young leaders are shaping DRR strategies at local, national, and global levels through participatory approaches and co...

Summary: This episode explores the critical and often overlooked role of ethics in disaster response, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights how the global crisis exposed failures in preparedness, vaccine equity, and the ethical prioritization of vulnerable populations. One key issue discussed is the unequal distribution of vaccines, where some countries had surplus access while othe...

Summary: This podcast explored the emerging discipline of disaster ethics, examining how ethical principles apply in crisis situations such as natural hazards, pandemics, and political instability. The conversation highlighted the complexity of ethical decision-making during disasters, where normal frameworks must adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, limited resources, and high stakes. One key...

Summary: This podcast explored how LGBTQ+ communities experience disasters and climate change through a lens of systemic discrimination, invisibility in policy, and grassroots resilience. The conversation examined both institutional failures and the creative survival strategies developed within queer communities worldwide. LGBTQ+ individuals are often forced to live in high-risk areas due to housi...

Summary: This episode focused on the global experiences of LGBTQ+ communities in the context of disasters and climate change, featuring perspectives from researchers working in the U.S. The discussion highlighted the growing field of queer climate justice and the urgent need to address how disasters uniquely affect LGBTQ+ individuals. Despite assumptions that LGBTQ+ rights are well protected in pl...

Summary: This podcast session explored the intersection of HIV, LGBTQ+ rights, and disaster risk management (DRM) in Colombia, with particular attention to ongoing stigma, healthcare access, and inclusive policy development. Stigma surrounding HIV remains widespread. Many individuals, including LGBTQ+ people, face discrimination in healthcare, employment, and social settings due to misconceptions...

Background: This podcast draws on insights from a recent IDRiM podcast interview with Jeisson Garcia of Colombia’s Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD), focused on the intersection of disaster risk management and the vulnerabilities of LGBTQ+ communities in Colombia. LGBTQ+ individuals in Colombia face significant structural inequalities in healthcare, education, justice...

Abstract: Today’s episode kicks off our special Pride Month series, where we shine a light on the experiences and challenges that LGBTIQA+ people face in the context of disasters and emergencies. Pride Month is observed every June in many parts of the world, is more than a celebration. It’s a commemoration of struggle, a tribute to courage, and a call to action. It began in honour of the Stonewall...

Summary: Nombulelo’s doctoral thesis explores the critical role of community participation in the “Build Back Better” (BBB) framework for post-disaster reconstruction. It emphasizes that while theory and policy widely endorse community involvement as essential for resilient and sustainable recovery, a gap remains between this advocacy and its practical implementation. Through case studies in Kamai...

Abstract: For the past decade, one of our co-hosts, Mark, has dedicated his research to exploring youth perception and participation in climate change, particularly within the United Kingdom. In this episode, Mark discusses the impact that misinformation is having—and may continue to have—on the public’s perception of climate change. He explores what changes are needed in the national education cu...

Abstract: For the past decade, one of our co-hosts, Mark, has dedicated his research to exploring youth perception and participation in climate change, particularly within the United Kingdom. In the next two episodes, he and Haris will sit down todiscuss what the research is revealing. In this episode, Mark shares how his interest in climate perception began, how young people develop their underst...

Abstract: This thesis addresses the limitations oftraditional disaster economic impact assessments, which often overlook spatial and temporal variations. It proposes a novel method that utilizes electricity consumption (EC) and nighttime light (NTL) data as alternative indicators toestimate economic impacts with greater spatiotemporal precision. By developing counterfactual models based on pre-dis...

Abstract:  This week continues the discussion from last week, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI)—examining both its benefits and its risks to society. In addition, we explore the role of laws and regulations in shaping how governments respond to disasters. Mark, in particular, focuses on the UK context and how disaster response legislation has evolved since 1945. Background to COBRA TV S...