emBRACE Handbook - Introduction

The embrace Project is a four year FP7, Collaborative Project. Start Date: 1 October 2011.

About emBRACE

The primary aim of the emBRACE project is to build resilience to disasters amongst communities in Europe. To achieve this, it is vital to merge research knowledge, networking and practices as a prerequisite for more coherent scientific approaches. This we have done in the most collaborative way possible.

Specific Objectives

• Identify the key dimensions of resilience across a range of disciplines and domains

• Develop indicators and indicator systems to measure resilience concerning natural disaster events

• Model societal resilience through simulation experiments

• Provide a general conceptual framework of resilience, tested and grounded in cross-cultural contexts

• Build networks and share knowledge across a range of stakeholders

• Tailor communication products and project outputs and outcomes effectively to multiple collaborators, stakeholders and user groups

The emBRACE Methodology

The emBRACE project is methodologically rich and draws on partner expertise across the research methods spectrum. It has applied these methods across scales from the very local to the European.

emBRACE is structured around 9 Work Packages. WP1 is a systematic evaluation of literature on resilience in the context of natural hazards and disasters. WP2 develops the conceptual framework. WP3 comprises a disaster data review and needs assessment. WP4 models societal resilience. WP5 contextualises resilience using a series of Case studies (floods, heat waves, earthquakes and alpine hazards) across Europe (Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey and UK). WP6 refines the framework: bridging theory, methods and practice. WP7 exchange knowledge amongst a range of stakeholders. WP8 creates policy and practice communication outputs to improve resilience-building in European societies.

The emBRACE Consortium comprises 11 partners across Europe.

• Northumbria University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK (UoN) (Scientific Coordinator)

• Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disas-ters (CRED) at the Catholic University of Lovain in Belgium (UCL) (Administrative Coordinator)

• Academia Europea Bolzano, Italy (EURAC)

• The Stockholm Environment Institute, York, UK. (SEI-Y)

• The Stockholm Environment Institute, Oxford, UK. (SEI-O)

• Kings College London, London, UK. (KCL)

• Middle East Technical University, Turkey (METU)

• Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Land-scape Research, Switzerland (WSL)

• University of Reading, Reading, UK (UoR)

• United Nations University Institute for Environ ment and Human Security, Germany (UNU-EHS)

• Helmholtz-Zentrum Fuer Umweltforschumg GMBH, Germany (UFZ)

Introduction | Concepts | Methods | Case Studies | Reaching Out | Resources