Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) is a decade-long research programme co-sponsored by the International Science Council ( merged by International Council for Science (ICSU), the International Social Science Council (ISSC), and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). It is a global, multi-disciplinary approach to dealing with the challenges brought by natural disasters, mitigating their impacts, and improving related policy-making mechanisms.

The complexity of the task is such that it requires the full integration of research expertise from the natural, socio-economic, health and engineering sciences as well as policy-making, coupled with an understanding of the role of communications, and public and political responses to reduce the risk.

IRDR addresses technological and health-related events when these are consequences of natural hazards.

Mission

To develop trans-disciplinary,  multi-sectorial alliances for:

1. in-depth, practical disaster risk reduction research studies, and
2. the implementation of effective evidence-based disaster risk policies and practices.

Research Objectives

1. Characterisation of hazard, vulnerability and risk.
   • 1.1 identifying hazards and vulnerabilities leading to risks;
   • 1.2 forecasting hazards and assessing risks; and
   • 1.3 dynamic modelling of risk.
2. Effective decision-making in complex and changing risk context.
   • 2.1 identifying relevant decision-making systems and their interactions;
   • 2.2 understanding decision-making in the context of enviornmental hazards;
   • 2.3 improving the quality of decision-making practice
3. Reducing risk and curbing losses through knowledge-based actions.
   • 3.1 Vulnerability assessments
   • 3.2 Effective approaches to risk reduction

Download: A Science Plan for Integrated Research on Disaster Risk