Disaster Research Institute

The mission of the Disaster Research Institute is to build a knowledge resource on disaster management which will enhance and enrich the academic pursuits of the University, and meet the needs of Canadian and international agencies, both governmental and non-governmental, which respond to the demands created by disasters.

To this end, the DRI is situated within the Clayton H. Riddle Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources at the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg, Canada. The University features undergraduate and graduate programs in most contemporary liberal arts, science and professional disciplines. The Disaster Research Institute is one of a small number of institutes that foster interdisciplinary approaches to basic and applied problems.

The DRI conducts interdisciplinary research in disaster-

• monitoring
• prediction
• prevention
• mitigation
• relief
• recovery
• management

In addition, the Institute has access to the expertise of associate members who may be employed in-

• other universities
• consulting firms
• government departments
• non-governmental organizations
• civic emergency management

• Foster interdisciplinary links within the University to consolidate faculty resources of knowledge and experience in hazard and disaster management.
• Facilitate development of these resources by creating a heightened awareness of DM needs and methods.
• Expand knowledge individual and cooperative research programs including graduate student research.
• Disseminate knowledge about DM to students and community at large, including advising under contract national and international agencies.

1990: Disaster Research Unit established in the Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts under the leadership of Dr. John Rogge.

In the first few years, the DRU focused on a number of international disaster related issues including involuntary migration caused by to natural disasters in Bangladesh and impacts of hurricanes in Caribbean Islands.

1994: the Disaster Research Unit was elevated to the Disaster Research Institute (DRI).

Professor Tom Booth, Department of Botany, Prof. Raymond Wiest, Department of Anthropology, Prof. Gustav Stevenson (Now Dean of Human Ecology), Dr. Bob Tait (who later became the Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia) were among the most active members of the DRI.

1995: Dr. John Rogge was appointed the Director for a 4-year term from July 1.

1996: Dr. Bob Tait became the Interim Director on November 1.

1997: Dr. John Rogge left DRI with a United Nations job and Dr. Bob Tait became the Director of DRI. He led several studies during the 1997 flood in the Red River Valley. Several PhD and masters students graduated under DRI sponsored funding.

1998: Dr. Dave Babar became the Director of DRI.

2001: Dr. Emdad Haque joined the UoM and started to work with Dr. Dave Barber to keep DRI associated research activities at the Natural Resources Institute.

2010: Dr. Ron Stewart and Dr. Haque initiated a project to enhance DRI activities.

For the 2010-11 academic year, the following activities have been planned for the DRI:

1. • Lecture Series (approximately one each month)
   • Workshop entitled “Red River floods: Lessons and Way Forward”
   • Updating the DRI website
   • Consolidating DM resources
   • Developing a new course on climate change and disaster risk reduction.