I recently attended a fantastic symposium hosted by the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (IHRR) at Durham University. The event explored the critical role of active listening and co-creating knowledge across communities, practitioners, and policymakers in addressing hazards, risks, and resilience. Chaired by Dr Ellen Robson, the symposium highlighted the urgent need for promoting transdisciplinary, collaborative research to tackle complex environmental crises while meaningfully engaging society.
The event showcased diverse research projects and case studies which emphasised the importance of incorporating varied perspectives into decision-making processes. Presenters explored how fostering genuine engagement, equitable power relations, and co-ownership can lead to inclusive, effective, and sustainable solutions.
Key insights emerged from the presentations and the interactive Q&A session, where discussions focused on active listening, relational engagement, and mutual capacity-building.
1. Building Relationships First
Professor Neil Denton (IHRR, Durham University) delivered a thought-provoking talk, "A New Order of Things?" In his talk, Professor Denton emphasised that active listening and authentic communication are fundamental to collaborative research, particularly in diverse communities. Professor Denton outlined five principles of participatory community-based research: (I) Genuine Engagement, (II) Representation, (III) Equitable Power Relations, (IV) Accessibility, and (V) Co-Ownership. He further asserted a collective need to foster high-quality relationships before, during, and after collaboration.
In the Q&A session, I asked about ways to enhance active listening skills and received some useful advice. Professor Denton recommended Marshall Rosenberg's "Nonviolent Communication" as a valuable resource, highlighting how unmet needs can manifest as judgment and blame. He explained how curiosity and compassion can foster genuine understanding rather than a standardised top-down problem-solving approach which often involves making assumptions about the root causes, leading to maladaptive solutions and wasted resources. Recognising the needs of all parties as vital to building better collaborations and achieving meaningful outcomes can enhance collaboration and ensure that science is applied meaningfully to address societal challenges.
2. Bridging Knowledge Systems for Landslide Risk Reduction
Dr Katie Oven (Northumbria University) presented "Listening for Landslides," focusing on landslide risk reduction in rural Nepal. Her ethnographic research across ten sites combined Indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches to assess slope instability. Dr Oven emphasised the importance of understanding the "intangibles" of risk—cultural practices, local experiences, and historical knowledge—which are often overlooked in purely scientific approaches.
By bridging the gap between traditional practices and modern science, Dr Oven's work highlighted how interdisciplinary collaboration could yield sustainable, community-centred outcomes that build resilience. This hybrid methodology—melding quantitative and qualitative techniques—illustrated how integrating traditional practices into modern frameworks creates sustainable and culturally appropriate solutions.
Dr Oven’s work emphasised the need to move beyond an "us versus them" mindset in research, advocating for a blended approach that complements existing cultural practices. She explained how meaningful, long-term engagement can ensure local practices are not undermined but rather enhanced for improved disaster resilience.
3. Lessons from Co-Creating a Landslide App
Professor Bruce Malamud (IHRR, Durham University) described the development of a co-created landslide tracking mobile app in his talk, "A Co-Created Landslide Mobile App: Lessons Learned." The app’s design began during the COVID-19 pandemic and was rooted in continuous stakeholder engagement and iterative feedback loops.
During the Q&A session, Professor Malamud highlighted how disaster risks often stem from a lack of communication and collaboration within communities in the periods before disasters. Traditional top-down interventions frequently overlook local needs, exacerbating existing inequality and vulnerability. This disconnect can lead to maladaptive practices, which increase disaster risks over time.
Professor Malamud's points reinforced the importance of equitable partnerships and accessible solutions that empower communities to be active agents in their own resilience. The app was developed through iterative, interdisciplinary engagement with stakeholders, blending geological science, technology, and community input. By involving users at every stage—from design to testing—the app became more accessible, relevant, and impactful. This approach underscores how co-created scientific tools can bridge gaps between research and policy while empowering communities with actionable knowledge.
4. Leveraging Narratives and Arts in Communication
Professor Sarah Curtis illustrated the interdisciplinary nature of disaster science in her talk, which highlighted how insights from the SHAPE disciplines (Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts for People and the Economy) can complement traditional scientific approaches used in STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Maths). Professor Curtis introduced the “Three I’s” Model – depicted in Figure 1. Representing:
Interdisciplinarity of research and specialist advice which helps to inform the knowledge base for preparedness and response to crises;
Inclusiveness for the various groups of actors who should be involved in knowledge production (including research), planning, response and resilience relating to health during crises;
International cooperation and partnerships in knowledge sharing, research co-production, planning and action relating to health during crises.

Using the "three I's" model, this talk explored contextual interactions across geographic and temporal scales, explored the role of narratives, stories, and the arts in communicating complex ideas and bridging cultural divides, emphasising the importance of integrating social and cultural dimensions into disaster responses.
For more on this model, readers are encouraged to read the commentary paper published in the Journal of the British Academy titled ‘Health and wellbeing in the face of crises associated with climate or conflict: how can knowledge from the humanities and social sciences help us respond to disasters’.
In the Q&A segment, Professor Curtis elaborated on the power of narratives, stories, and the arts in enhancing scientific communication. Visual and audio engagement, she explained, can help express complex scientific findings in ways that resonate emotionally and culturally, fostering a deeper understanding among diverse audiences. By pairing technical expertise with cultural insight, disaster science can become more inclusive, adaptive, and effective by emphasising the power of art and the use of visual and audio mediums to express emotions and experiences, fostering collective understanding. Developing deep, relational connections rather than transactional ones can yield greater long-term benefits, Professor Curtis stated, offering sustainable solutions tailored to the unique needs of communities.
5. Weaving Connections for Resilient Communities
Rich Gibbons and Christine Frazer (Gateshead Community Bridgebuilders) delivered an inspiring session, "Weaving the Safety Nets and Trampolines of Connection." Ms. Frazer discussed how mutual aid in disaster management relies on deep listening to truly understand community challenges and celebrate local innovations. She shared examples of resilience initiatives, including collaborations with charities for the deaf and community-driven sports programs.
Ms Frazer emphasised how academic rigour and active community engagement can identify systemic barriers and drive meaningful change. The examples of Community Bridgebuilders and their work underscored the importance of meaningful engagement to identify barriers and build community capacity. The Bridgebuilders' work has culminated in a handbook designed to improve inclusion and accessibility, showcasing how co-ownership and representation can drive resilience. Their collaborative projects—ranging from support for marginalised groups to innovative pop-up exhibitions—illustrate how interdisciplinary approaches can transform resilience from a theoretical concept into a tangible practice.
Closing Reflections: Key Themes
The symposium concluded with a lively panel discussion that reflected on the shared themes of the event:
Genuine Engagement: ensuring meaningful involvement of all stakeholders.
Representation: including the voices of those directly affected by risks and challenges.
Equitable Power Relations: establishing dynamics that foster equality and shared responsibility.
Accessibility: making processes and information open to all.
Co-Ownership: sharing resources, responsibilities, and benefits among all parties involved.
The discussion also touched on using gamification to promote collaborative learning and decision-making. As co-chair of the UK Civil Resilience Gaming Lab, I found this particularly relevant. Games provide an innovative platform for exploring roles, responsibilities, and impacts, enabling stakeholders to approach problem-solving with empathy and creativity.
These discussions emphasised that active listening, understanding positionality, and fostering collective problem-solving are essential for building capacity in a sustainable and meaningful manner.
Final Thoughts
This symposium was an incredibly insightful, engaging, and inspiring event. It reinforced the importance of active listening and co-creation as cornerstones of resilience-building and offered many strategies for fostering empathy, collaboration, and inclusive decision-making.
The event highlighted how the increasing complexity of environmental crises demands a science-driven, interdisciplinary approach to disaster risk reduction (DRR). The discussions reinforced that integrating scientific methods with diverse knowledge systems—spanning local, Indigenous, and global perspectives—is essential to advancing disaster science and bridging existing gaps between science, policy, and practice.
The event showcased diverse research projects and practical case studies, emphasising not only the value of science but also the necessity of connecting it to communities' lived experiences. Presenters illustrated how fostering equitable partnerships, co-ownership, and interdisciplinary methodologies can create sustainable solutions for complex challenges.
I look forward to seeing the Gateshead Community Bridgebuilders' pop-up exhibition at the upcoming UKADR Conference, which will delve further into their "bridgebuilder stories." By adopting the principles of looking again, reflecting deeper, and fostering mutual understanding, we can continue to work toward more equitable and resilient communities.
Further Links;
Please check out the link to the event and all the projects and referenced publications:
Curtis, S., Leach, M., Ardern, K., Beckerman, C., Hunter, P. R., Ruszczyk, H., & Pelling, M. (2024). Health and wellbeing in the face of crises associated with climate or conflict: how can knowledge from the humanities and social sciences help us respond to disasters?. Journal of the British Academy, 12(1&2).
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