Environmental Disaster and Disruption

Australia and the wider Asia Pacific regions have seen the proliferation of natural disasters in recent years. Social scientists have pointed out that the natural disasters and impacts they have on people and the ecosystems are situated within the larger postcolonial and political-economic systems. Understanding how our social practices at different layers of engagement fuels disasters and shapes responses and recovery is necessary to demand greater action for change.

This panel brings together leading and emerging social scientists at the University of Sydney to share current research on environmental disasters, their management, adaption, response and recovery. It does so by unpacking the multifaceted roles of different actors and social practices, from turbulence in global environmental politics (David Schlosberg), to the role of the state in facilitating environmental disasters (Susan Park), to situated knowledge and community self-organisation in disaster response and recovery (Scott Webster), to the household gender dynamics that shape the nature of disasters and responses to them (Shiori Shakuto). Each presentation will be followed by a brief pitch on what change is necessary, and how we can be part of that change.

• Chair: Professor Dannielle Celermajer, Discipline of Sociology and Criminology
• Professor David Schlosberg, Discipline of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney
• Professor Susan Park, Discipline of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney
• Dr Scott Webster, Discipline of Gender and Cultural Studies, University of Sydney
• Dr Shiori Shakuto, Discipline of Anthropology, University of Sydney