Natural disasters research up in lights

Emergency managers and policy makers from across Australia will be in Adelaide on 4-5 July to discuss how national research by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC is making communities safer.

Research Driving Change - Showcase 2017 will highlight practical research outcomes from the CRC. CEO of the CRC, Dr Richard Thornton, said that 2017 marks a midway point for the CRC and a time to deliver on the national investment into the problems and issues on natural hazards.

“We are now seeing outcomes of the national research program being taken up by CRC partners, and others, across the broader emergency management sector,” Dr Thornton said.

“This event is a celebration of what we have learnt in the last four years, and will show how much science is valued by those who are working to improve the way Australia prepares for and responds to natural hazards emergencies.”

Research Driving Change - Showcase 2017 is an opportunity to listen, discuss and digest the all the learnings. Case studies from those using the research right now will highlight how the findings are being put into practice.

The program will cater for those who have closely followed the research in recent years, as well as those new to the CRC and wanting to avoid missing out on developments in the sector:

• Hear the heads of emergency service agencies discuss how the research is influencing the sector and where the big challenges will be over the next decade
• Hear leading practitioners in the sector talk about the challenges and the rewards from bringing the research into practice
• See case studies and demonstrations of natural hazards research making communities safer around Australia.

The event will begin with the launch of the national research priorities for the next decade, which have been developed collaboratively with emergency management leaders. These priorities will spell out the highest needs, and highlight what research needs to be conducted into the future. It is the first time this collective natural disaster knowledge has been documented in Australia.

Research Driving Change - Showcase 2017 will be held at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide, on Tuesday 4 July and Wednesday 5 July.