UN official launches UCL centre for disaster warnings research

The new UCL Warning Research Centre, the world's only institute researching the role of warning systems in managing hazards, risks, vulnerabilities and disasters, has been formally launched by Mami Mizutori, the head of the UN's Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The centre, led by Dr Carina Fearnley (UCL Science & Technology Studies), brings together expertise from UCL and around the world and aims to work with businesses, governments and other organisations to meet the growing need for effective warnings and alert systems for many forms of risks and disasters. Mizutori, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative of the UNDRR, who gave the keynote at the launch event, said the launch of the centre was "timely and important", adding: "The centre explicitly brings together not just researchers but also practitioners, policymakers, media, the public and importantly will guide the next generation of students, who will be adding their energy, urgency, intelligence and creativity to solve some of the thorniest challenges of our time. It is truly another great example of a whole of society approach. "On behalf of the UNDRR I am pleased to welcome the UCL Warning Research Centre to the rich network of organisations and individuals seeking to change the way we create safer and more resilient communities." Dr Fearnley, the new centre's Director, said: "Effective warnings and alert systems save lives. Some disasters occur without any warning system in place, as seen in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami where over 227,000 people died, while others follow warnings that were not heeded - this was the case for the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz volcanic eruption in Colombia.