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The NEEDS (Network of European Emergency and Disaster Studies) 2026 conference will explore how societies can strengthen resilience in an era of interconnected and overlapping crises. Hosted by the Civil Society and Sustainability Research Group at KTU, the event brings together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to examine how social, economic, technological and environmental systems can better withstand cascading disruptions.

The conference will consider international approaches to prevention, preparedness and response, drawing on frameworks such as the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the EU Preparedness Strategy. It also offers a unique opportunity to engage with experts in the Baltic region, shaped by its distinct geopolitical and security context.

Participants are invited to contribute ideas for creative and interactive special sessions, including workshops, roundtables, crisis simulations, co‑creation activities and project presentations.

Upcoming Apprenticeship Webinars - 29th April and 30th April 2026

Level 6 Environmental Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship
29th April 2026 at 11am
Dive into how this programme develops resilient, future-focused environmental professionals equipped to support sustainability goals and organisational compliance.

Level 6 Resilience & Emergencies Professional
30th April 2026 at 10am
Discover how this apprenticeship prepares learners to manage emergencies, strengthen organisational resilience, and respond confidently to complex risks.

This is a one-day event bringing together researchers, industry partners, and emergency response professionals to explore how emerging technologies are reshaping the future of crisis response.

From artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics to next generation robotics and immersive simulation, this event will showcase current innovations and examine how they can support safer, faster, and more resilient emergency operations.

Through talks, demonstrations, and cross sector discussion, we will delve into:
- Cutting-edge applications of AI in emergency decision-making
- The role of robotics in hazardous environments
- How real-time data and sensing systems can transform situational awareness
- Future challenges and opportunities for technology enabled response
- Space for hands-on interactions with emerging tools and prototypes

This event is designed for emergency services, industry partners, researchers, and anyone interested in the future of technology enabled emergency response.

Attendance is free, but spaces are limited. To attend, please email Olly Sapsford at ae4435@coventry.ac.uk

A one‑day national conference bringing together government, emergency services, Local Resilience Forums, infrastructure providers and VCSF organisations to strengthen the UK’s preparedness for extreme weather.

With climate‑related risks rising, the event explores how agencies can work together before, during and after severe weather events. Sessions will cover the latest Resilience Action Plan updates, predictive technologies and AI modelling, health impacts of heat and cold, flood and drought management, space weather risks, and protecting vulnerable communities. Topics include:

Strengthening multi‑agency coordination and LRF leadership

Implementing the Adverse Weather Health Plan

Using the LARA Toolkit: Heat Edition

Flood, drought and coastal erosion resilience

Data, forecasting and AI for predictive response

Preparing for storms, snow, winter conditions and space weather

Supporting vulnerable groups and embedding VCSF roles

Whole‑of‑society approaches to resilience

Open to professionals across emergency response, resilience, health, policing, fire and rescue, infrastructure, transport and the VCSF sector.

This conference explores how the field of crisis management studies can reconnect with the classic works that shaped its foundations. In a landscape transformed by 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the financial crisis, COVID‑19 and the war in Ukraine, the discipline has expanded rapidly across academic fields and professional practice. Yet it still lacks shared conceptual anchors to support a truly interdisciplinary approach.

The event brings together scholars and practitioners to reflect on the progress made in the field and to re‑examine the seminal studies that continue to inform crisis research and practice today.