The Disaster Challenge is a national challenge to encourage new ideas, new thinking and new research. The Disaster Challenge called out to early career researchers and postgraduate students across Australia to send in their innovative ideas and solutions for a wicked problem: How can disaster preparation engage with the unengaged, the moving or the hard to reach?
Three innovative entries from around Australia have been selected for the inaugural Disaster Challenge Final, each demonstrating new research approaches to address the wicked problem of engaging with the unengaged or hard to reach during natural hazard emergencies.
- ‘Mobilising local culturally and linguistically diverse stakeholders and gatekeepers for disaster response’ – from Jyoti Khatri K C (Queensland University of Technology).
- ‘Tourist and tourism worker education via wifi-activated captive portals’ – from Mark Owens (CFA) and Dr Kamarah Pooley (Fire and Rescue NSW).
- ‘Beacon of hope’ – from Jane Toner, Sheridan Keegan, Ahmed Qasim, Lynn Lue-Kopman, Winty Wang, Manori Dissanayaka (Griffith University) and Cris Hernandez-Santin (RMIT University).
The Disaster Challenge Final will see each team pitch their brilliant idea to the audience, with a panel of judges deciding on the winning team.
The Disaster Challenge Final takes place as part of the Natural Hazards Research Forum in Brisbane on 13 October, the UN International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. The Final is an open public event but registration is required. Please note, if you are already registered to attend the Natural Hazards Research Forum, you do not need to register for the Disaster Challenge Final as it is already included.
When: 13 October 2022
Time: 4-6pm, including refreshments
Where: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Boulevard Auditorium
The inaugural Disaster Challenge is coordinated by Natural Hazards Research Australia, hosted with support from universities and emergency management organisations in Queensland: Australian Red Cross, CQUniversity, Griffith University, Healthy Land and Water, Inspector-General Emergency Management Queensland, James Cook University, Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Queensland Police Service, Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland, University of Southern Queensland and University of the Sunshine Coast.
