UCDRN and Berkeley's Center for Security in Politics are pleased to be growing our collaborative partnership with the California Council on Science & Technology

This expert briefing series is part of CCST’s Disaster Resilience Initiative, which is generously supported by the State of California through a one-time funding allocation in the 2021-2022 State budget. This allocation supports the transmission of information between science and technology experts and policymakers focused on the overlapping, intersecting, and compounding nature of disasters in California.

SDSC has been awarded an NSF grant to lead the U.S. launch of the RAiD system, which assigns persistent identifiers to research projects. This initiative will streamline data management, support FAIR principles, and improve collaboration and long-term tracking of research outputs across institutions.

The EERI UNR Student Chapter hosted Dr. Michele Barbato for a seminar on wildfire risk in WUI areas. He stressed the need for multi-source data in risk assessment and highlighted reducing overall risk as key to addressing the wildfire, housing, and insurance crises.

Dr. Robert "Chip" Schooley, a visionary in infectious diseases, was honored as the 2024 Revelle Medalist for his profound contributions to global health, clinical research, and pandemic response. Known for his integrity, empathy, humor, and fearless intellect, he has pioneered efforts in HIV/AIDS research, particularly through building clinical trials networks and advancing antiviral therapies that transformed the disease into a manageable condition.

Amir AghaKouchak, a leading researcher in civil and environmental engineering at UC Irvine, has been honored with the prestigious title of Chancellor’s Professor, recognizing his exceptional academic contributions and value to the university. This distinction, awarded for a renewable five-year term, highlights AghaKouchak’s impactful interdisciplinary work in hydrology, climatology, and climate extremes, particularly around compound hazards and their societal impacts.

In the wake of the devastating January 2025 wildfires, which destroyed over 18,000 structures and displaced more than 100,000 residents, Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath has launched the Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery in partnership with UCLA.

UC San Diego’s Dr. Robert “Chip” Schooley, a respected infectious disease expert at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, has been appointed as one of the commissioners on the newly formed Lancet Commission on U.S. Societal Resilience in a Global Pandemic Age.

Join us for a critical discussion on LA’s reconstruction following recent fire events. Industry leaders will share insights on rebuilding strategies, community resilience, and innovative approaches to urban recovery. This exclusive gathering brings together key professionals in development, design, and construction to shape the future of our communities.

In light of the devastation caused by wildfires across Los Angeles County, UCLA Samueli civil and environmental engineering associate professor Idil Akin shares her insights in this article about potential debris flows and landslides. Akin’s research looks at how wildfires affect stability of slopes (i.e., post-wildfire erosion, landslides and debris flows), soil water retention, and regional water quality.

LANL Director Thom Mason will discuss his organization’s journey from the Manhattan Project to the Cold War, to the post-Cold War era, and into what might be called America’s post-post-Cold War era, explaining how its programs and objectives continue to be shaped by global events and national policy in its “Fourth Age.”

REPORT: Starting on January 7 2025, two large wildfires (the Palisades and Eaton wildfires) erupted in Los Angeles, California. The fires spread extremely quickly over the following week and are among the most destructive of human property in Southern California’s history.‍‍ UCDRN supported a World Weather Attribution report that found climate change increased the likelihood of wildfire disaster in highly exposed Los Angeles area.

Sponsored by UCSF's Center for Climate, Health and Equity, "Urban Wildfire Response and Recovery" is a series of expert panels focusing on the physical, mental, and social impacts of wildfires. "Policy and Wildfires," is scheduled for 6 MAR 2025, at noon and will examine the intersection of policy decisions and wildfire management.

Sponsored by UCSF's Center for Climate, Health and Equity, "Urban Wildfire Response and Recovery," is a series of expert panels focusing on the physical, mental, and social impacts of wildfires. "Wildfire Impacts on Brain & Cognition," will be held on 20 FEB 2025 at noon and will address how climate disasters like wildfires affect brain health and cognitive functions, and how climate resiliency efforts can protect brain health.

This webinar will cover the social impacts of wildfires as well as the model of community response and recovery.

Investing in resilient infrastructure and enforcing building codes can significantly reduce disaster impact and recovery costs.

Online Course - ‘Confronting Cascading and Concurrent Crises’- begins session on January 17

UCDRN convenes the first annual Disaster Resilience Day in Sacramento

UCSC’s Center for Coastal Climate Resilience partnering with EY on Open Science Data Challenge

UCDRN and ISR convening an expert panel on the urban heat crisis