Vobp2-workshop

VOBP-2 Workshop: Communicating Volcano Hazard 42nd Course of the International School of Geophysics.

Volcano Observatory Best Practices Workshop #2: Communicating Hazard

Abstract_Template

International sharing of experiences in order to identify and encourage best practices in disaster risk reduction is embodied in the Hyogo Framework for Action of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). The VOBP workshop series is designed to provide an adequate venue for discussing the techniques and procedures for volcano disaster risk reduction by the actual practitioners. The synthesis of knowledge and experience from widely scattered observatories will serve to advance risk reduction practices much faster, as well as to develop a urgently needed network of consultation and assistance among the world’s observatories.

“Communicating Hazards” is the subject and title for the VOBP #2 workshop. Communication embraces many different aspects: what should be communicated, in what form, to whom, when, etc. Defining best practices for communicating hazards by volcano observatories implies therefore several different topics, some of which are briefly listed below:

1. how observations are perceived in terms of their completeness and accuracy, and in general what's their informative content in terms of forecasts;
2. how forecasts should be communicated, i.e., what's the usefulness of probabilistic evaluations and deterministic scenarios;
3. what's the communication with media with respect to communication with decision-makers;
4. how communication should be managed in light of clearly defined responsibilities of scientists and decision-makers;
5. how effective communications should be organized with the public and a wide range of stakeholders potentially affected by volcanism;
6. etc.

Volcano observatories located in different countries behave differently, as a consequence of different cultural setting and different legislation. A VOBP workshop on “Communicating Hazards” should be effective in recognizing differences as well as in providing best practice that may either be adopted or just taken as an international authority for further reference and development.

Organization

The workshop is organized as an activity of the Global Volcano Model (GVM) partnership in cooperation with INGV, USGS, IAVCEI and its WOVO Commission, and USAID/VDAP.
The EU/FP7 projects VUELCO and NEMOH, as well as the NERC project STREVA are also sponsors.

Steering Committee

Paolo Papale (INGV, IT), John Eichelberger (Alaska Univ., US), Gill Jolly (GNS Science, NZ), Sue Loughlin (BGS, UK), Charlie Mandeville (USGS)

Venue

The Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture of Erice (www.ccsem.infn.it) is a world renowned scientific organization established in 1963 by the physicist Antonino Zichichi to offer scientists from all disciplines and from all parts of the world an ideal venue to rally around the banner of a science without secrets and without frontiers. The Centre is situated in the old pre-mediaeval city of Erice, 750 m above the Tyrrhenian Sea (Mt. Etna is visible in days with clear sky). Four restored monasteries provide an appropriate setting for intellectual endeavors. The ancient buildings and lecture halls are now named after great scientists including Enrico Fermi, Paul Dirac, Richard Feynman, and Victor Weisskopf. The Isidor I. Rabi Institute houses the Polo Sismico, the first worldwide Network of Seismological Detectors (1981), as well as living quarters for people attending sessions at the Centre.