Natural Hazards and Society

Course Aims

This is an introductory and general education course that aims to provide you with background knowledge on the range of natural hazards that may affect the human society. You will learn about the geological and geographic setting of different natural hazards, the physical processes that create the hazards, their potential social impacts and how or if the impacts can be mitigated. You will also study key hazardous sites and events and gain an insight into hazard and risk assessment, as well as a thorough understanding of the natural hazards threatening humans.

Intended Course Learning Outcomes (CLO)

By the end of this course, you (as a student) would be able to: 1. Identify the range of natural hazards, and explain where they occur, why and how (LO1). 2. Formulate well-reasoned arguments about the assessment and management of past hazards and disasters, based on the literature and your new knowledge of hazards and impacts (LO2). 3. Articulately present to others the hazards expected in any location around the world (LO3).

Course Content

The class content will be organised as learning about the where and why, the physical processes (hazards), their impacts and any possible mitigation strategies for a range of different natural hazards, including Landslide, Volcano, Earthquake, Tsunami, Flood, Typhoon, Climate, Wildfire and human induced hazards. Each topic will be covered by a three-hour formal lecture. In addition to these topic-based lectures, there will be an introductory class will present key terms and concepts around natural hazards. In the middle of each class (except the first two week), students will have 10-20 questions for quiz. 3-10 clicker questions will be asked in each topic based lectures to stimulate critical and out-of-the-box thinking.

Course OBTL