Climate change is fraught with contradictions and inconsistencies, particularly in the institutionalization and dissemination of climate change knowledge, which the Global North predominantly controls. Meanwhile, the Global South bears the brunt of its impacts, with limited resources for mitigation and adaptation and negligible support from the developed nations. Although climate change is slowly beginning to affect and change societies in the Global North, its impacts are still predominantly felt in the global periphery.
The challenge lies in approaching it as a global problem that interconnects regions while acknowledging the substantial inequalities in its socioeconomic reality and overall social impact, which follow a well-established global geopolitical order.
Despite being much discussed within the social sciences, there is still a lack of systematic focus on the consequences of global (anthropogenic) climate change for the Global South, particularly for the region of southern Africa. These societies are especially vulnerable to ecological system transformations due to their more fragile infrastructure, higher poverty rates, and ecological conditions. They face disasters related to climate change more intensely and frequently than other regions.
The Windhoek, Namibia 2025 conference focuses on the theme “Risk in Time and Space,” highlighting the variability of disaster risks over time and space as one of the most challenging elements. All types of risks, whether socio-natural, technological, or climate-induced, are dependent on time and space, regardless of their origin.
The conference will bring together expert presentations by leading specialists in climate change, disaster risk reduction, and community-based participatory research (CBPR) will present cutting-edge trends and advancements in the field as well as:
- Renowned experts in climate change, disaster risk reduction, engaged research, and community-based participatory research (CBPR) will share insights on the latest trends and developments.
- Panel Discussions: Panels will feature diverse voices from academia, government, and community organizations to discuss specific challenges and opportunities in engaged research.
- Interactive Workshops: Participants will have opportunities to learn practical skills, tools, and methodologies for engaged research, GIS, policy brief writing, and access to the HSRC’s Data Repository through eResearch Knowledge Centre (eRKC).
- Case Study Showcases: Selected projects demonstrating significant climate change and disaster risk impact through engaged research will be presented.
- Networking Sessions: Facilitated networking sessions will allow participants to connect and explore potential collaborations
Keynote Speakers
Professor Ranjan Datta, Canada Research Chair in Community Disaster Research at the Indigenous Studies, Department of Humanities at Mount Royal University, Canada.
Keynote speech title: Indigenous Knowledge in Disaster Risk Reduction and Prevention through Development Policies in African Regions.
Dr Olivia Kunguma, Free State University (UFS)’s Disaster Management Training and Education Centre, South Africa.
Keynote speech title: Alert and Warning in the Climate Change Era: Reconsidering a Risk Communication Consensus.
Prof. Ioannis Pitas (IEEE fellow, IEEE Distinguished Lecturer, EURASIP fellow), a Professor at the Department of Informatics of AUTH, and a chair of the International AI Doctoral Academy (AIDA) https://www.i-aida.org/.
Keynote speech title: AI and Big Data Analytics for Natural Hazards in Disaster Risk Management
Call to Submit Abstracts
Abstracts should be limited to 250 words. Successful author(s) will be required to register and attend the conference in person. We only limit up to 10 papers to be presented on the online platform. All papers will be double-blind peer-reviewed by a panel of selected international experts.
Abstracts
Submit abstracts online to the following address: drmconference@hsrc.ac.za before 30 May 2025. Abstracts should contain the following information:
Download the call for abstracts document here.
The submitted abstracts must address one of the following thematic areas;
Key Topics
Risk Analysis Fundamentals
- The Risk concept in history and across various scientific domains;
- Variability of risk determinants/components: exposure, hazard, vulnerability, adaptive capacity, resilience;
- Spatial and temporal aspects of systemic risk;
- The past and the future of risks, crises, and disasters;
- Risk in education and learning in and beyond.
Risk Assessment
- Spatial databases for risk assessment and mapping;
- Risk assessment methods capturing the variability of risk;
- Areas/Africa regions, hot spots for hazards, risks, and disasters (geophysical, meteorological, hydrological, climatological);
- Vulnerability- and resilience-based social-spatial inequalities;
- New technologies for hazard and risk observation and monitoring.
(Disaster) Risk Management
- Historical and contemporary (disaster) risk management paradigms;
- Spatial and temporal issues of the disaster risk management cycle;
- Urgency and uncertainty in crisis management;
- Management models adapting to the variability of risk;
- Engineering and non-engineering safety regulations in different eras and contexts;
- Past and new technologies in risk and crisis management;
- Emerging risk identification in African cities and vulnerable rural communities.
Risk Perception, Communication and Governance
- Multi-stakeholder dialogue and risk communication: Bridging the communication gap
- Risk perception and communication in different regions, cultures, and eras;
- Systemic risk communication and governance;
- Risk governance case studies for different African regions.
(Disaster) Risk Mitigation in Sectoral Policies
- Policies for enhancing personal, community, institutional, and urban resilience;
- Climate Change mitigation and adaptation policies;
- Risk-based Spatial Planning;
- Early warning, emergency response, decision-making, and resilience building;
- Risks and Disaster insurance policies in risk management.
Monitoring and Coping with Real Risk Problems
- Temporal/spatial analysis and management of geophysical hazards and risks;
- Temporal/spatial analysis and management of Climate Change hazards and risks;
- History and geography of public health, epidemic, and pandemic risks;
- Food Security/Safety in SADC and beyond.
Risk and Ethics
- Risk Culture and Acceptable Risk in and beyond;
- (Disaster) Risk management and local knowledge/cultural inclusion;
- International and regional standards for climatic disaster risk.
Key Dates
First call for abstracts: 28 March 2025
Final abstract submission date: 30 May 2025
Final date for registration: 29 August 2025
Attendance Costs
US$ 250.00 cost of attending the conference
US$ 200.00 early bird registration cost
US$ 50 student registration (proof of student registration will be required)
Note that participants from all regions around the world are welcome to present and/or attend the conference. Conference fee excludes accommodation, travel- and visa-related costs, and these costs are each delegate’s responsibility. Should you require an invoice, please request it from drmconference@hsrc.ac.za
Payment Details
Please request an invoice by downloading the form. Send the completed invoice form to drmconference@hsrc.ac.za. Please ensure that the information on the invoice is correct and that you are able to pay the invoice, as it cannot be cancelled once generated. Please attach proof of payment to your conference registration form.
Posters
We encourage submissions of poster presentations that succinctly convey the essence of the research or project. Posters should be visually engaging and communicate the research question, methodology, findings, and implications. A poster template will be provided and printing will be done by the HSRC if timeously submitted.
Book Displays
Authors who have recently published or are soon to publish a book related to the conference theme are invited to submit proposals for book displays in an open research marketplace format. These sessions will provide an opportunity for authors to talk about their work and engage in discussions with the audience during a conference reception and poster session.
Visual Displays
We welcome submissions of other visual displays of academic output, such as documentaries, short films, and media installations that critically engage with the conference theme and offer innovative perspectives on resilience, climate change adaptation, disaster risk and vulnerability reduction, and early warning.
Image on this page: Logos of conference series endorsers.
| Themes |
| • Climate change • Communication and dissemination • Destruction of habitat • Displaced • Regional • Reparations / restitution of rights |
