New experts for the chair on social vulnerabilityIn the latter part of the year, the Munich Re Foundation and the UN University (UNU-EHS) in Bonn appointed three further experts to the Chair in Social Vulnerability, extending the commitment to social vulnerability research to 2012.The aim of the chair is to provide training for international students in the various aspects of disaster management and prevention. They will put this knowledge to practical use in their home countries. The chair is occupied on a rotating basis by outstanding international scientists who build up a research network. Thus, it is possible to pursue a long-term research objective. Climate and environmental scientist Prof. Thomas E. Downing of the Stockholm Environment Institute in the UK is already the fourth incumbent in the academic year 2008/2009. Prof. Downing has already selected the theme of the 2009 Summer Academy: “Tipping Points in Humanitarian Crises”, which will focus on tipping points in the climate and environmental system. Three other chairs (designate) were chosen in autumn 2008:
•Prof. Michelle Leighton (2009/10)
Director of Human Rights Programmes at the Centre for Law and Global Justice,
University of San Francisco, an expert in international law and human rights
•Prof. Mohamed Hamza (2010/11)
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Oxford Office,Expert in environmental and
disaster management as well as field work
•Prof. Susan Cutter (2011/12)
Professor of Geography at the University of South Carolina, Director of the
Hazards Research Lab, expert in disaster reduction and social vulnerability
The foundation chair is based at the Institute for Environment and Human Security of the United Nations University (UNU-EHS). The respective incumbents chair the Summer Academy on Social Vulnerability, held in July each year, ensuring that the work of their predecessors is pursued. It is also likely that environment-related migration, an item new to the agenda in 2008, will be given greater emphasis. Munich, 15 December 2008 |