Global Disaster Resilience Centre

A leader in inter-disciplinary research, education and advocacy to improve the resilience of nations and communities

What would it be like to live in a world in which government authorities, businesses, communities and individuals work together to create a society that is able to withstand the effects of unforeseen events and threats? At the Global Disaster Resilience Centre we are working with stakeholders at the global, national and local level to make this happen.

The Global Disaster Resilience Centre is committed to excellence in research, education and advocacy to improve the resilience of nations and communities to disasters.

With growing population and infrastructures, the world’s exposure to hazards is increasing. When disaster strikes, communities may need to be rebuilt physically economically and socially. At the same time, it is vital that any reconstruction activity pro-actively considers how to protect people and their environment, and reduce a community’s vulnerability.

The Global Disaster Resilience Centre is part of the School of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Huddersfield in the UK. In November 2013, the University of Huddersfield was awarded the Times Higher Education University of the Year. The University excels in enterprise and innovation and in 2012, was named the Times Higher Education Entrepreneurial University of the Year.

Our Global Leadership in Disaster Resilience is at the heart of our interdisciplinary approach in enabling better futures for all by inspiring nations, communities and tomorrow's professionals
Professor Mike Kagioglou, Dean of the School of Art, Design and Architecture

Vision, aims and objectives

At the Global Disaster Resilience Centre (GDRC), our vision is for a society that has the capacity to resist or change in order to reduce hazard vulnerability, and to continue functioning when subjected to a hazard event.

We seek to achieve our vision by undertaking work that crosses the traditional boundaries between academic disciplines and schools of thought. We provide strategic advice and practical guidance based on rigorous, stakeholder informed research. We are also supported by a worldwide network of partners from policy, government, industry and academia.

We define a resilient built environment as the: “design, development and management of context sensitive buildings, spaces and places, which have the capacity to resist or change in order to reduce hazard vulnerability, and enable society to continue functioning, economically and socially, when subjected to a hazard event”.

In order to achieve this aim, our objectives are to:

Carry out internationally outstanding, original, significant, rigorous, innovative and potentially agenda setting research
Secure significant, high profile and prestigious grants
Produce quality publications that target a range of stakeholders
Influence decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions
Inform professional practice, raise awareness and develop skills to tackle disasters
Establish mechanisms for the transference of knowledge to the market, government and professionals
Attract high calibre students to conduct world class research in key emerging areas