290256 PS Resilience and vulnerability in risk research (2008S)

Concept: Keynote presentation by the lecturer and presentations of students, thereafter development of a synthesis. The course aims at promoting a more in-depth understanding of theoretical concepts and different schools of thought regarding resilience and vulnerability within the context of risk research. Current methodologies will be discussed and critically reviewed. Based on the analysis of different case studies, the seminar will focus on the question on how to capture and assess the processes and parameters that represent resilience or vulnerability for different regions, social groups, cities. The seminar will discuss on how vulnerability and risk reduction as well as the promotion of resilience can be achieved. Examples from Europe, USA, Asia and Africa should allow examining different approaches of resilience, vulnerability and adaptation to hazards of natural origin. Besides presentations dealing with the systematization of different concepts of resilience and vulnerability within risk research, case studies as well as the development of appropriate action strategies will be discussed. Experiences from developed and from developing countries should be examined and juxtaposed against each other.