A while ago we advertised the opportunity to undertake a placement, organised by GfGD, with the international NGO CAFOD. These one week placements are designed to give geoscience students a preliminary, but important, insight into the development sector. They allow students to consider the role that geology already plays, and ways in which it could …[Read More]
Geohazards
Women and Natural Hazards
“Women and children first” went the call from the deck of the titanic. And then of course Jack sacrificed his own life to save Rose, who was afloat on what admittedly looked like a raft with more than enough space for two. Chivalrous though this picture is, the reality is very different – in most …[Read More]
King’s College London Summer School: Natural Hazards and Society
The study of natural hazards, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, are an important part of geoscience courses. However a thorough understanding of how and why they impact society requires the study of a much broader range of topics. Similarly, the study of social sciences gives us an understanding of the origins and development of vulnerability, but …[Read More]
Friday Photo (66): Earthquake Preparedness training in Bangladesh
Children being prepared to deal with the aftermath of an earthquake at a school in Bangladesh. This is part of a project run by the charity Concern. Credit: Susanne Sargeant. (c) Geology for Global Development
Guest Blog: Can Humans Make the Earth Shake?
Robin Wylie studied geophysics at the University of Edinburgh, and then spent some time working at a volcanic observatory in Hawaii before starting his Master’s in Earth and Atmospheric Physics at the University of Leeds. Robin is now doing a PhD at University College London, looking at magma chamber processes at Mt Etna, Sicily. This is …[Read More]
Thinking Development: An Academic Partnership Between London and Haiti.
The Sisters of St Joseph provided education for a large number of young girls in Haiti, but their school was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake. It is vital that it is rebuilt. The sisters have many years of teaching experience, but no experience in construction. At University College London (UCL) there is plenty of expertise …[Read More]
Guest Blog: Earthquake Risk Reduction in Bangladesh
Dr Susanne Sargeant works as a seismologist for the British Geological Survey. Susanne is undertaking work on the enhancement of knowledge exchange between earthquake scientists and NGOs for disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response. Her research is an excellent example of the integration of geoscience and development, and she is a member of GfGD’s Advisory Group. …[Read More]
Friday Photo (61): Active Geology – River terraces in Kazakhstan
River terraces cutting into Cenozoic sediments in Kazakhstan. River terraces are flood plains that have moved away from the river, in this case because the land was vertically displaced during fault movement. Credit: Tim Middleton (c) Geology for Global Development
Reducing the Risk of Future Disasters
GfGD welcomes the release of the UK Government Office for Science Foresight Report into “Reducing the Risks of Future Disasters: Priorities for decision makers”. The report has been specially commissioned to recognise the growing need for good disaster and risk reduction (DRR) science. The report describes how the growing threat of natural hazards to increasingly …[Read More]
Friday Photo (60): Active Geology – Displacement on a Fault, Kazakhstan
The ridges running across this Kazakhstan landscape are a result of displacement on an active fault. Credit: Tim Middleton. (c) Geology for Global Development