Steffi Burchardt new Director of the Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science, CNDS
Steffi Burchardt, professor i tektonik vid Institutionen för geovetenskaper blir föreståndare för CNDS och tar över efter Giuliano Di Baldassarre. Foto: Mikael Wallerstedt.
Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science, CNDS, is Sweden's leading center for research on natural disasters, disaster risk reduction and crisis management.
The purpose of the center is to solve societal challenges related to natural hazards through interdisciplinary research collaborations. CNDS involves three universities; Uppsala University, The Swedish Defence University and Karlstad University. The research is interdisciplinary and includes social sciences, engineering and natural sciences and there is close collaboration with public organizations and industry. Steffi Burchardt, Professor of Tectonics at the Department of Earth Sciences, is the new Director of CNDS.
What is the most pressing issue at the moment?
- There is a lot of focus on conflicts, political threats and crises, and it is important to point out that crises can also occur due to climate change and natural events. Research to understand these phenomena and how they affect society is more important than ever. Research on how we can influence and manage different crises is also important. Whatever the crisis, we are helping to improve society's preparedness.
What expertise do you have in natural hazards?
- I am a volcanologist by training, but in recent years I have become increasingly interested in how people think about and are affected by living near active volcanoes.
Why do you want to be the Director of the CNDS?
- It takes time to build a functioning interdisciplinary platform. Here, CNDS has succeeded in creating a functioning research environment that includes not only three universities but also social sciences, natural sciences and technology. At Uppsala University, several departments are part of CNDS: the Department of Earth Sciences, the Department of Government, the Department of Information Technology, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Peace and Conflict Research.
Over the past 15 years, CNDS has become a center of international, world-leading research. Much of this work can be attributed to Giuliano Di Baldassarre. He has led the center for 9 years and has, among other things, helped create what is now internationally known as the CNDS paradigm; that nature affects society but that society also affects nature, something we should remember.
I would also like to point out that CNDS is celebrating 15 years this year. 14 February between 13:15-17:30 we will celebrate in the University Buildning with a symposium on how to best create interdisciplinary research environments. Everyone who is interested in this subject is welcome!
14 February, CNDS celebrates 15 years. Find out more and register for the event no later than 7 February:
Read more abour CNDS here: https://https://www.cnds.se/w/cn