CNDS Celebrates 15 Years of Advancing Disaster Science
On February 14, 2025, the Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Sciences (CNDS) at Uppsala University marked its 15th anniversary with a special event focused on the future of interdisciplinary research. Held at Universitetshuset in Uppsala, the event gathered experts, early-career scientists, and international collaborators to reflect on the Centre’s achievements and discuss the path forward in disaster science.
The event began with insights into CNDS’s origins, with Sven Halldin, Professor emeritus in Hydrology, Uppsala university reflecting on its founding and goals. Giuliano Di Baldassarre, Professor in Surface water modelling, Uppsala university and CNDS previous Director highlighted the Centre’s contributions to PhD education, while Sara Bondesson, Senior Lecturer, Swedish Defence university emphasized the importance of career development. The discussions underscored CNDS's role in creating a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment for tackling natural hazards.
A key theme of the event was cross-boundary collaboration, with speakers like Sebastien Penmellen Boret, IRIDeS, Tohoku University, Japan discussing the international context of disaster science, and Leonardo Olivetti, PhD student, Uppsala university exploring the potential and risks of AI in disaster management. Steffi Burchardt, Professor in Tectonics, Uppsala university and a new CNDS Director added to this conversation, highlighting CNDS’s outreach efforts and its role in shaping the future of disaster science. She emphasized the importance of public engagement and building bridges between academia, policymakers, and society to ensure that research is translated into actionable solutions for disaster risk reduction.
The afternoon culminated in a panel debate on the grand challenges ahead, featuring experts such as Fredrik Bynander, Swedish Defence University and Margareta Wahlström, former president of the Swedish Red Cross who stressed the importance of global cooperation in addressing disaster risks.
The 15th anniversary served as a celebration of CNDS’s transformative impact on disaster science and a look toward the future. With its focus on interdisciplinary research, international collaboration, and societal outreach, CNDS is poised to continue leading the way in tackling the world’s most pressing natural hazards.
Congratulations CNDS!