Disasters related to natural events continue to grow in number, intensity, and impact. In many
regions, natural hazards are becoming direct threats to national security because their impacts are
amplified by rapid growth and unsustainable development practices, both of which increase
exposure and vulnerabilities of communities and capital assets. Reducing disaster risk then
becomes a foundation for sustainable development.
Science-driven approaches to disaster risk reduction (DRR) and disaster risk management
(DRM) can help communities and governments become more resilient and reduce the human and
economic impacts of disasters. Science plays a significant role in all stages of disaster risk and its
management often providing rapid scientific assessment of and usable knowledge to decisionmakers
(e.g., Ghafory-Ashtiani and Hosseini 2008; Machlis and McNutt 2010; Kumar et al.
2014). Scientists can do more to co-produce and deliver scientific knowledge on disasters and
disaster risks for p
