DIRECTED supports Disaster Risk Reduction Academy in Salerno, Italy

DIRECTED researchers Lydia Cumiskey (University College Cork) and Janne Parviainen (SEI Oxford) co-organised the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Academy, held at the University of Salerno, Italy, from 11–13 February.

The Academy is supported by the Societal Resilience Cluster (SRC) within the CMINE community and is jointly organised by partners from leading Horizon Europe projects, including: The HuT, PARATUS, DIRECTED, MYRIAD-EU, MEDiate, B-PREPARED, MEDiME and TOGETHER.

The three-day event brought together 40 early-career researchers and practitioners to exchange knowledge and explore the latest research and innovation in:

• Technology and innovation in disaster risk reduction
• The ethical dimensions of DRR
• Community resilience, inclusion and risk communication
• Crisis leadership, decision-making and insurance

DIRECTED played a key role in shaping the programme, designing three thematic sessions and supporting participants in the Proposal Writing Lab.

Decision-making for extreme flooding in Rimini

In the interactive session “Decision-making for extreme flooding in Rimini using interoperable tools (including AI) and governance frameworks”, convened by Lydia Cumiskey and Janne Parviainen, DIRECTED colleague Stefano Bagli joined remotely to present Data Fabric innovations developed in the Emilia-Romagna Real World Lab.

Participants worked with flood maps generated for extreme coastal and pluvial events, exploring how interoperable tools and governance frameworks can support informed decision-making. The session also incorporated creative methods to stimulate interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration.

Picture 1: Students hard at work at the DRR Academy

Financing and AI in disaster risk reduction

Two sessions were convened by Janne Parviainen, exploring the topic of AI in the context of disaster risk research, and the challenges of financing DRR. The former delved deeply into practical, ethical and socio-environmental challenges associated with increasing use of AI, building upon DIRECTED’s work in assessing the limits of risk modelling and modelling assumptions which shape decision-making. Discussions regarding financing DRR reflected upon the current landscape of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and EU funding, with an effort to equip participants with skills to pursue research funding despite increasing uncertainty and complexity of the global geopolitical context.

Picture 2: Exploring Limits to modelling

“The Academy offered an informal and collaborative space to exchange knowledge and stimulate future partnerships for advancing applied research on disaster resilience that bridges technology and the social sciences.”

Lydia Cumiskey, Programme Committee

Read more about the DRR Academy here:
https://drracademy2026.wordpress.com/program/