What is a Disaster?

About the lecture

In this first module, we discuss what we mean by calling something a disaster. We focus on: (i) the importance on using clear language that is easy to understand when we talk about the term disaster; (ii) how to potentially define a disaster in only seven words; (iii) the two parts of a disaster, both a hazard and what that is, as well as defining vulnerability; (iv) challenging the notion that disasters are natural, and instead highlighting that disasters occur due to vulnerabilities that in turn exist by choice.

About the lecturer

Ilan Kelman is a Professor in Disasters and Health at University College London. His overall research interest is linking disasters and health, including the integration of climate change into disaster research and health research. That covers three main areas: (i) disaster diplomacy and health diplomacy; (ii) island sustainability involving safe and healthy communities in isolated locations and (iii) risk education for health and disasters