Institute for Hazard and Risk Research

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The Institute for Hazard and Risk Research (IHR²) is a research institute at Durham University. The research institute is housed within the department of geography. IHR² is part of the university's 175th anniversary celebrations. IHR² was formally launched in the autumn of 2005 and with a £3.5 million investment in a new building, new laboratories and offices for staff and postgraduates is due to occupy the new building by June 2007. The present director of IHR² is Professor Phil Macnaghten.

[edit] Research

The research of the institute has an interdisciplinary approach with research being carried out in:

Understanding the production of risk and vulnerability
Resilience and response
Knowledge generation and mediation

Aspects of this research will involve the further development of earth process research with an emphasis on landslides and seismicity and well as temporal correlations of risks and hazards. The fluvial environment research of the university will further be enhanced through research in catchment issues, flooding, sea level rise, modelling and prediction of risks as well as the links between scientific knowledge and practical knowledge. The understanding and conceptual ideas of risk and vulnerability is also to be study along with research into technologies to prevent and cope with risks and the infrastructures in place to cope and minimise hazards.