Over the past academic year, the Disaster Resilience Research Network (DRRN) hosted a range of events, workshops, discussions, and publications. This page provides a brief summary of these activities, along with ongoing projects and pending applications affiliated with the network.
Shaping DRRN Activities Through Member Feedback
At the DRRN Spring Workshop 2025, network members were asked to identify the types of activities and initiatives they would most like to see from the network. The results, shown below, highlighted strong interest in research seminars, knowledge-sharing opportunities, newsletters, collaborative research activities, and data-sharing initiatives.
Over the past academic year, DRRN has worked to incorporate this feedback into its programming and activities. The events, workshops, research initiatives, and engagement opportunities featured on this page reflect many of the priorities identified by our members and partners.
Please review the following DRRN activities and events from the past academic year:
DRRN Member/External Partners Highlight Series
Throughout the year, DRRN featured a series of member and external partner spotlights through Q&A interviews. These stories highlighted the work, experiences, and perspectives of researchers and practitioners working across the disaster resilience field. The series aimed to strengthen connections within the network, promote knowledge sharing, and increase the visibility of resilience-related research and practice.
Featured Members and Partners Included:
- Fuyubi Nakamura
- Deb Borsos
- Kathryn McConnell
- Michael Hooper
- Bala Nikku
- Enda Murphy
- Stephanie Chang
- Theodore Lim
- Jocelyn Stacey
- Maddy Laberge
- Emily Pletsch
- Jen Walker
2. UBC Courses Related to Disaster and Resilience
DRRN shared a webpage highlighting disaster resilience–related courses offered across University of British Columbia.
3. Keith Porter: Helping Homeowners Invest in Resilience
Keith Porter visited UBC to discuss multilateral incentivization approaches that encourage homeowners to invest in disaster resilience, including pilot initiatives in Calgary and Edmonton.
4. DRRN Report: “Understanding Disaster Preparedness in Vancouver: Community Perspectives”
In partnership with the City of Vancouver Emergency Management Agency, DRRN surveyed nearly 3,000 residents and conducted focus groups to better understand perceptions of disaster risk and preparedness in Vancouver.
DRRN and UBC Safety & Risk Services gathered input from students, faculty, and staff to improve emergency preparedness communication and planning on the Vancouver campus.
6. Federal Emergency Management Feedback Sessions
DRRN hosted online discussions to gather community feedback on strengthening federal support for emergency management in Canada, with responses submitted to Public Safety Canada.
A South–North knowledge exchange workshop connecting researchers and practitioners from Nepal and British Columbia to discuss disaster learning, resilience, and recovery practices.
Ongoing DRRN-affiliated projects:
DRRN shared updates on a new research initiative examining investments in natural hazard mitigation and resilience planning.
Updates on the ongoing Resilience Hubs initiative focused on strengthening community resilience and emergency preparedness across UBC campus communities.
Updates on the ongoing BC Atlas of Disaster initiative, which brings together disaster-related data, research, and mapping tools to support knowledge sharing, collaboration, and evidence-informed decision-making across British Columbia.
This pages shares updates and findings from the collaboration between the DRRN and the City of Vancouver Emergency Management Agency (VEMA) on a mixed-methods study exploring disaster preparedness and resilience across Vancouver.
Recent and pending funding applications:
- Climate Foresight Dialogues – submitted May 2026; not funded
- NFRF 2026 International Joint Initiative for Research Harnessing Disruptive Technologies to Address Global Challenges – Letter of Intent submitted June 2026
- Final UBC Research Cluster renewal – due Winter 2026/27