Bridging Science and Practice

Science for Humanitarian Emergencies and Resilience (SHEAR) was an innovative, multi-partner research programme carried out in some of the world’s most hazard-prone places.

It has helped forge a better understanding of disasters, in order to predict them and minimise the risk they pose to vulnerable communities.

Natural hazards like floods, storms and landslides are impacting millions of people around the world every year and thousands of lives are lost. Responding to disasters, and helping people to rebuild their lives afterwards, costs billions of pounds.

With the climate changing more and more people will be vulnerable to natural hazards. For those living in places hazard-prone places with low economic development, the risks are higher.

In order to build greater resilience to disasters, we need to better understand and predict hazards so that affected communities can be prepared for them and respond when they take place. Thanks to scientists around the world, knowledge and tools that can help are being developed, but more research is needed.

There is also a risk that the gaps between science and practice on the ground result in learning not being shared directly with those who need it or being shared in ways that are inaccessible and hard to put into action. Information needs to reach decision makers in local and national government, civil society, community organisations and, of course, the individuals at risk.

Our approach

The ability to understand and predict naturally occurring disasters is key to reducing risk. SHEAR partners have carried out innovative research in hazard-prone places around the world so that people at risk can become more resilient.

Practical Action together with the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre played a vital role in this large, multidisciplinary, global programme. We ensured that new knowledge was well-managed, synthesized and translated into accessible and actionable language and formats. This was then shared with practitioners and decision makers who can use it to build a more resilient future for people at risk of natural hazards.

This important role as knowledge broker means that the reach and impact of SHEAR can continue to grow and be sustained long after the programme itself has ended. Much of SHEAR’s knowledge can be found in the Practical Action Knowledge Centre.

Our goals

Through cutting-edge research SHEAR partners aimed to enhance the quality, availability and use of risk information and early warning systems. For more information, use the links below.

• Improved data
  With improved quality, availability and accessibility of hazard-related data, disaster impacts can be better defined and anticipated.
• Improved forecasting
  SHEAR projects have worked to advance the quality of forecast information to support preparedness, by increasing the confidence, credibility and usability of forecasting science.
• Improved tools
  To translate science into action, information needs to be gathered, processed and communicated in an effective and accessible way. SHEAR projects have developed a wide range of suitable tools and strengthened people’s capacity to use existing tools.
• Improved decision making
  SHEAR projects have been working to understand decision makers’ needs, and to distil and communicate the information they need to take effective action quickly and efficiently.