Naturally hazardous events do not necessarily result in natural disasters, rather, natural disasters are measured by the impacts of the event on people. This unit will introduce the natural earth systems that create natural hazards, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunami, cyclones, fire, landslides and floods, and address how geographic, societal, economic and political factors prevented or promoted events becoming natural disasters. This background knowledge is combined with highly topical case studies provided by teaching staff, and those led by students, which will describe historic local, national and global natural disasters. The case studies dissect the decision-making processes of key stakeholders and the public driven by societal, political and economic pressures, and uncover the role of and relationship between traditional journalism and emerging media (e.g., social media, citizen journalism) in the construction and communication of disaster events.

Natural hazards and disasters will be a continual challenge for global society. Reflection on historic events is a powerful means of bringing about positive change. This unit also includes a critical analysis and evaluation of multi-disciplinary, institutional and cultural changes following disaster events and an investigation of successes and failures with policy development, implementation and outcomes associated with natural disaster events.

This unit is of broad interest to those who will have decision-making and crisis and communications responsibilities in both public and private sectors, including emergency managers, government and public decision makers, response personnel (ambulance, police, fire), utility managers, urban planners, and citizens.