RISC-KIT first summer school on coastal resilience

Enrollment is now open for the first RISC-KIT summer school on coastal resilience, which will take place 12-16 September 2016, in Ferrara, Italy. The course invites students and early-career researchers to gain firsthand experience in applying some of Europe’s newest Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) tools, cutting-edge tools that will help coastal managers and other end users deal with multi-hazard threats in a changing climate.
Enrollment is now open for the first RISC-KIT summer school on coastal resilience, which will take place in Italy later this year. The course invites students and early-career researchers to gain firsthand experience in applying some of Europe’s newest Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) tools, cutting-edge tools that will help coastal managers and other end users deal with multi-hazard threats in a changing climate.

Exposed coastal areas in Europe face increasing risk from numerous factors including more frequent and violent surge-driven floods, erosion and rain-driven flash floods in the face of an unpredictable climate. Continued population growth and its associated economic development in these coastal areas heighten human risk and vulnerability when extreme meteorological events occur.

RISC-KIT, a European project funded under the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission, is developing a toolkit to improve resilience and preparedness in exposed areas to improve DRR and to protect human life and investment. The toolkit includes a risk assessment tool, the Coastal Risk Assessment Framework (CRAF) that allows the user to determine which regions along a coastal expanse are most vulnerable to hazards. By identifying these risk “hotspots”, end users can more efficiently focus their DRR measures and resources. The toolkit also comprises an online management guide that allows virtual learning and exchange for the development of DRR plans. The guide includes prevention, mitigation and preparedness measures with recommendations for their use in different socio-economic, cultural and environmental scenarios.

From 12 to 16 September 2016, RISC-KIT experts will offer the opportunity to advanced PhD students and early-career researchers to learn how to apply these tools during the first RISC-KIT Summer School. The course will take place in Ferrara. Italy, and will comprise of lectures and workshops, as well as a field trip to the coastal region of Porto Garibaldi-Bellocchio in the northern Emilia-Romagna region of the Italian Adriatic coast. This low-lying area is one of the RISC-KIT case studies, chosen as a reference site as it possesses numerous socio-economic vulnerabilities and is highly exposed to extreme meteorological events. Course participants will also meet with local end-users to gain an understanding of how they are implementing the RISC-KIT tools in a hands-on context.

The course will be given by experts in coastal engineering, coastal management and socio-economics, including: Dr. Christophe Viavettene, FRHC, Middlesex University; Dr. Grit Martinez, Ecologic Institute; Dr. Paolo Ciavola, University of Ferrara; Dr. Ap van Dongeren, Deltares.

Enrollment for the summer school opened on 1 February and will remain open until 30 April 2016. Applications are invited from coastal scientists and engineers, geographers, social scientists, etc. Transdisciplinary candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. Interested candidates are asked to send a Curriculum vitae, together with a letter of motivation to summer.schools@risckit.eu. Places are limited and will be offered to those candidates who are expected to benefit most from the course. Please see www.risckit.eu for further information and updates.

Related link: cordis.europa.eu