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1. 2022 Natural Hazards Research Summit

   https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-8ty8-d985  

   Bridge, Jennifer; Cox, Daniel; Ramirez, Julio; Thornhill, Jennifer (January 2023, Designsafe-CI)

   The 2022 Natural Hazards Research Summit drew researchers, practitioners, and federal agency representatives together to reflect on the accomplishments achieved by the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) community and to chart the path for the next decade of impactful natural hazards research. Convened in October, 2022 in Washington, D.C. with support from the National Science Foundation, the specific goals of the two-day Summit were to: (i) discuss and elucidate the research needs for the next 10 years, (ii) foster connections between the broader natural hazards community, and (iii) disseminate information on the resources and capabilities that NHERI offers to researchers focused on preventing natural hazards from becoming societal disasters. This report documents the findings and recommendations from the panel, town hall sessions, and visioning activities that took place at the Summit. The intended audience for the report is the natural hazards research community and the funding agencies that support its research. Accordingly, the report includes a research agenda developed with input from the Summit participants. 

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2. Editorial: Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI): Mitigating the Impact of Natural Hazards on Civil Infrastructure and Communities

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2021.708450  

   Chowdhury, Arindam; Conte, Joel; Masters, Forrest; Ramirez, Julio; Ricles, James (June 2021, Frontiers in Built Environment)

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3. Editorial: Technology transfer from the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI)

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1269036  

   Blain, Cheryl Ann; Ramirez, Julio Alfonso (August 2023, Frontiers in Built Environment)

   Technology transfer entails the systematic transference of scientific research results to practical tasks. The research product may be a novel design, an effective process, a tool or a set of tools. Effective technology transfer depends on many factors. It includes recognizing a gap in knowledge, focusing on the end user’s needs, long-term planning, effective communication and collaboration between researchers, standards organizations, and potential users, and a successful reduction of the knowledge or training burden required by the user. This Research Topic provides five examples of robust technology transfer from researchers seeking to mitigate the effect of natural hazards on the built and natural environment—transfers of knowledge that will significantly advance our nation’s resilience in the face of growing natural hazard threats. In 2016, the National Science Foundation established the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) network. NHERI provides engineering and social science researchers with access to a world-class research infrastructure to support their efforts to improve the resilience and sustainability of the nation’s civil, natural and social infrastructure against earthquakes, windstorms and associated natural hazards such as tsunami and storm surge in coastal areas. Supported by the National Science Foundation, NHERI is a nation-wide network that consists of 12 university-based, shared-use experimental facilities, a computational modeling and simulation center, and a shared community cyber-infrastructure. 

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4. Defining and Practicing Reciprocity in Hazards and Disaster Research

   https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069241309279  

   Austin, Jessica; Evans, Candace_M; West, Jocelyn; Champeau, Heather; Peek, Lori; Adams, Rachel_M (December 2024, International Journal of Qualitative Methods)

   There is growing recognition of the importance of reciprocity between researchers and those involved in or affected by research, especially in sensitive field contexts such as disaster settings. Minimal applied guidance exists for researchers about how to practice reciprocity, however, resulting in several questions that have yet to be explored: What are the key considerations for practicing reciprocity in research? What potential unintended consequences should researchers be aware of when engaging in reciprocity? What practical strategies can help prepare researchers to engage in reciprocity and address challenges as they arise? Based on a systematic literature review—reflecting the shift of recent conceptions of reciprocity from transactional to more relational approaches—we offer a new, unifying definition of reciprocity as “an ongoing practice of critical reflection, relationship building, and exchange in which researchers are obligated to strive to produce mutual benefits for the people involved in or affected by the research process.” To motivate the practice of reciprocity, we highlight three key benefits: cultivating trust, addressing power imbalances, and improving research relevance. Additionally, through qualitative analysis of 53 research reports, we develop a typology of reciprocity in hazards and disaster research that clarifies six specific forms reciprocity can take, including: (1) centering participants and communities; (2) being empathetic and mindful of participant diversity; (3) sharing research results; (4) improving research and research team processes; (5) supporting learning, career development, or institutions; and (6) offering compensation. Finally, we outline potential challenges to practicing reciprocity and conclude with practical strategies for enhanced ethical grounding and effectiveness. 

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5. A Scoping Literature Review: Cultural Competence for Hazards and Disaster Research

   https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-9vz8-7r76  

   Wu, Haorui; Peek, Lori; Mathews, Mason; Mattson, Nicole (January 2020, Designsafe-CI)

   In the field of hazards and disaster research, which often involves rapid reconnaissance assessments in unfamiliar cultural and social contexts, cultural issues have been exacerbated by the increasing frequency and intensity of disasters, which propel more researchers into the field and into contexts where they may lack community-based cultural knowledge. In quick response research, in particular, rarely is there time or adequate resources for individual researchers or research teams to properly prepare for new cultural contexts where they will study affected populations. The challenges associated with hazards and disaster researchers conducting these types of reconnaissance studies have come under increased ethical scrutiny, as technological advancements have simultaneously allowed for new and different types of data collection. Through a systematic review of the cultural competence literature, this project (1) examines existing cultural competence strategies, interventions, tools, plans, and training protocols as applicable for hazards and disaster researchers; (2) introduces a comprehensive framework for building cultural competence for hazards and disaster researchers; and (3) identifies gaps and high-priority research areas to advance cultural competence among members of the research community. This research argues that applying a cultural competence framework in hazards and disaster research offers the ability to improve interplay between researchers and participants (disaster survivors, emergency practitioners, and other service agencies) in order to better serve the individuals, families, and communities most affected by natural hazards, social inequalities, and consequent disasters. This dataset includes all the publications for this systematic literature review, which were published from January 1, 1960 to March 20, 2018 in English, including journal articles, books, book chapters, and grey literature (governmental and non-governmental organization reports). 

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