3 ECTS credits
90 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4017296FNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.
Theory:
In the framework of global changes and increasing demographic pressure on natural resources, risk posed by natural or man-made hazards have dramatically increased over the last decades. The impact of a given hazard is never proportional to its energy but depends mostly on the vulnerability of the impacted population and the management of the crisis. Using case studies from modern crises, this course will illustrate the concepts of risks and vulnerability and the influence of global changes on the impact of hazards. The variable nature, spatial and temporal scales of hazards and vulnerability are generally described. The students will learn to differentiate the phases of a crisis, to identify the actors involved and to analyse the best practices before, during and after a crisis to avoid that a natural hazard turns into a human disaster. Guest speakers from various profesional sectors illustrate their specific approach of risk managment.
Content
•Introduction: risk, hazards and vulnerability; global trends
•Types of hazards: nature, intensity, spatial distribution and scale, return periods
•The human component of disasters: assessing vulnerbility
•Risk assessment and the crisis management cycle
•Disaster risk reduction strategies
WPO
•Group discussion around case studies based on reading assignments: each student is asked to read 1-2 pre-selected scientific papers and to give his opinion on the management of a presented crisis based on his reading.
- Role plays:on the basis of a pre-established scenario, students interacts to defend the point of views of different crisis managment actors
•Group work on a selected case study: the students prepare in groups a presentation on a past natural crisis. They apply theoretical concepts and analytical scheme to highight the factors that contributed to the specific disaster.
Power point presentations of the lecturers and individual research projects are provided on Pointcarré.
Complementary study material:
• Wisner et al, 2004, At Risk, Routledge Taylor & Francis group, 471p.
• Smith K & Petley D.N. 2009. Environmental Hazards: assessing risk and reducing disaster. 5th ed., Routledge Taylor & Francis group, 416p.
Scientific journals for independent research projects.
The student acquires an overview of the different elements playing a role on controlling the relationships between natural hazards and risks. He is be able to identify the role of different actors in managing a crisis and the best practices at the different phase of development of a disaster. The student is able to critically read the literature related to risk assessment and to propose practical solution when confronted to a specific case study. Through role play, the student has experience in defending the point of view of the different actors involved in a crisis and is aware of the difficulties of efficient organization and communication between these actors.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
PRAC Teamwork determines 20% of the final mark.
PRAC Presentation determines 10% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 20% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the PRAC Teamwork category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the PRAC Presentation category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Written reports on WPO activities 20%
Group presentation 10%
Group reports 20%
Oral Exam 50%
A mark >8 for each of the evaluation is requested to pass the course.
Partial marks for the oral exam, the practical tasks; the group report or the presentation, if the student obtains at least half of the score for this part, are transferred to the second session and to the next academic year.
The student can relinquish his partial mark, provided s/he reports this to the lecturer and assistant by e-mail not later than 15 August (2nd session) or 1 October (no transfer to the next academic year).
Once the student has indicated that he will abandon his partial mark, he will irrevocably lose the partial mark.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Geography: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Geography: Standard track
Master of Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management: Standaard traject
Master of Biology: Ecology and Biodiversity
Master of Biology: AR Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems, start at Brussels
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: geografie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Sustainable Land Management: Urban Land Engineering