Abstract

Poor construction, like diseases, can be eradicated. Whilst the hazard itself is not preventable, the challenge is how as scientists we use our skills to influence decisions made by people going about their everyday lives and create a culture of earthquake-resistant housing. We believe the most effective way to communicate and increase resilience of natural hazards is through building. Resilience can only truly be increased through scientific knowledge transfer, in a language and actions the local communities can understand and are willing to accept and replicate themselves.

The talk will be in two parts. Dr So will first identify the need for research in the area of earthquakes, especially learning from post-earthquake field reconnaissance and vernacular housing. She will then move onto looking at ways architecture and engineering can help reduce risk to this natural peril. Some of the recent approaches the team at the Cambridge University Centre for Risk in the Built Environment (CURBE) has used in public engagement and communication with communities at risk will be highlighted at the end of the talk.