Engineering Science
Discover how science and technology help us reduce disaster risk and increase resilience.
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Course Details

Language English
Duration 7 weeks
Effort 3-5 hours / week
Description

This course aims to introduce participants to existing and emerging technologies suitable for disaster risk reduction while promoting the overall aim of sustainable development. The course focuses on three main natural hazards- floods, landslides and earthquakes. It also discusses the challenges and limits of adapting and adopting technologies depending on context (Global North and Global South) with examples from Switzerland, Nepal, Colombia, Philippines and other countries.

What you will learn


  • Explain Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) related concepts and science and technology for DRR.

  • Identify and describe existing and emerging technologies for landslide and flood reduction.

  • Explain methodological tools to assess vulnerabilities and risk and strengthen the resilience of communities at risk of landslides, floods and earthquakes.

  • Exemplify the role and the challenges of science and technological innovations for disaster risk reduction in an interdisciplinary manner including the importance of social aspects.

  • Recognize some of the actors active in DRR and international policy frameworks and technology for DRR.

Plan


  • Chapter/Week 1: Introduction to DRR and Science and Technology for DRR

  • Chapter/Week 2: Science and Technology for Risk Assessment

  • Chapter/Week 3: Science and Technology for Prevention

  • Chapter/Week 4: Science and Technology for Early-Warning and Preparedness

  • Chapter/Week 5: Science and Technology for Disaster Response and Emergency Relief

  • Chapter/Week 6: Science and Technology for Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction

  • Chapter/Week 7: Science and Technology for Resilience and Sustainable Development

Course instructors

Silvia Hostettler

Dr. Silvia Hostettler studied Tropical Environmental Science at the University of Aberdeen (UK) followed by a postgraduate course on development studies with EPFL. which took her to Burkina Faso for six months. She worked with IUCN – The World Conservati…

École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Free online courses from École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

EPFL is the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. The past decade has seen EPFL ascend to the very top of European institutions of science and technology: it is ranked #1 in E…

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