Global Risks and Resilience

With the earth’s human population now over 7 billion, the rapid pace of global social and environmental change together with an ever-interconnected world means that societies face increasing multi-dimensional systemic risks. What are some of the key risks and how do societies and communities deal with stress, shock and catastrophes and attempt to build resilience? This module introduces students to key approaches that geographers use to understand and investigate risk, vulnerability, and resilience, combining perspectives from human and physical geography. These approaches will be examined through a focus on different thematic areas (including food security, sustainable livelihoods, water, natural disasters, cultural heritage, migration, health, the built environment), that will be explored in particular contexts by way of case studies.