What is Understanding Risk?

UR is a global community of experts and practitioners with interest in the field of disaster risk identification, specifically risk assessment and risk communication.

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Events

Check out all the events happening in the UR community.

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2019 #VizRisk Challenge
Join this global challenge to explore how maps and visualization techniques can help citizens and governments understand and use risk data. Learn about data viz and risk communication, and compete for prizes!
May 15 – July 15, 2019
2020 Understanding Risk Forum Singapore May 18-22, 2020 Mark your calendar to join us in Singapore for the ten-year anniversary of UR! UR Field Lab: Chiang Mai Urban Flooding Chiang Mai, Thailand June 3rd - 28th, 2019 A one-month long arts and technology un-conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand exploring critical design practices in disaster risk management, collaborative technology production, hacking and art. Understanding Risk Caribbean Barbados May 27 - May 31, 2019 UR Caribbean took place May 27-31 in Barbados.

Initiatives

Explore exciting initiatives run by members of the UR community that help to advance the field of disaster risk identification.

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Open Data for Resilience Initiative The Open Data for Resilience Initiative (OpenDRI) applies the concepts of the global open data movement to the challenges of reducing vulnerability to natural hazards and the impacts of climate change. Challenge Fund GFDRR and DFID's competitive Challenge Fund pilots new and innovative approaches to overcoming these challenges and strengthens disaster and climate risk decision-making in developing countries.

Resources

Take advantage of our resource library with the latest journal articles, publications and tools related to the UR community.

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Open Data for Resilience Initiative (OpenDRI) e-learning course This short course provides an overview of the approach and toolset developed by the Open Data for Resilience Initiative. Understanding Risk Evaluation In order to understand how UR can better serve the community, the managing team commissioned an independent evaluation of the community and its activities.

News

New blogs and other exciting news items are posted regularly.

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Breaking the Link Between Extreme Weather and Extreme Poverty The impact of extreme weather on poverty is far more devastating than previously understood—outstripping all other estimates by as much as 60%. We can do much more to protect poor people from the shocks of natural disasters, which, as the report shows, cost the global economy $520 billion and force some 26 million people into poverty every year.