Conference Proposal on Disaster Research and the Social Sciences: Lessons Learned, Challenges, and Future Trajectories; April 30-May 1, 2004; Newark, DE

特拉华大学灾害研究中心（DRC）在美国国家科学基金会的财政支持下，很高兴地宣布召开为期两天的会议，题为“社会科学中的灾害研究：经验教训、挑战和未来轨迹”。会议将突出灾害领域的跨学科和国际观点，并使我们能够关注：1)从社会科学的角度来看灾害领域的成长和发展；2)灾害领域的理论、方法和公共政策贡献；3)从该研究领域获得的经验教训和最佳实践；4)灾害领域社会科学研究的未来轨迹或机遇。会议的一个重要成果将是制定侧重于前沿问题的灾害研究议程。提议的会议将于2004年4月30日至5月1日在特拉华大学举行。会议将包括灾害领域的主要学者和研究人员，并将使我们能够讨论与该领域有关的实质性、理论和方法问题和关切，并产生新的研究倡议，这将有助于加强和增加我们对灾害研究领域的理解和贡献。会议将讨论的重要、关键和实质性问题包括：社会科学灾害研究的增长和发展；灾害研究的理论和方法贡献与挑战；灾害研究对从业人员的影响；多学科研究在灾害领域的作用；制定国际灾害研究议程；研究中心在培训研究人员方面的作用；在后9/11环境中为灾害研究和未来优先事项提供资金；未来5至10年国家和国际一级需要发展和探索的主要研究领域和问题；建立跨学科和跨地域的合作研究计划。刚果民主共和国是世界上第一个致力于灾害研究的社会科学研究中心，因此，在这个特殊的历史时刻，对刚果民主共和国和灾害研究领域来说，在特拉华大学举行如此大规模的会议是适当和及时的。上述会议不仅将提供一个刺激的知识环境，而且还将提供一个机会来庆祝特拉华大学灾害研究中心（DRC）成立40周年，并检查该中心对国内和国际灾害研究领域的影响和贡献。有关本次会议的更多信息，请联系Havidan Rodriguez （DRC主任）或Tricia Wachtendorf（会议协调员），电话：（302）831-6618。

-The Disaster Research Center (DRC) at the University of Delaware, with the financial support of the National Science Foundation, is pleased to announce a two-day conference titled "Disaster Research in the Social Sciences: Lessons Learned, Challenges, and Future Trajectories." The conference will highlight interdisciplinary and international perspectives in the field of disasters and will allow us to focus on: 1) the growth and development of the field of disasters, from the perspective of the Social Sciences; 2) the theoretical, methodological, and public policy contributions of the field of disasters; 3) lessons learned and best practices that have emerged from this field of research; and 4) future trajectories or opportunities for Social Science research in the field of disasters. An important outcome of the conference will be the development of a disaster research agenda focusing on cutting edge issues. The proposed conference will take place on April 30 and May 1, 2004 at the University of Delaware. The conference will include leading scholars and researchers in the field of disasters and will allow us to discuss substantive, theoretical, and methodological issues and concerns relevant to the field and to generate new research initiatives that will contribute to strengthening and increasing our understanding and contributions of the field of disaster research. Important, critical, and substantive issues that will be discussed in the conference include: growth and development of disaster research in the Social Sciences; theoretical and methodological contributions and challenges in disaster research; impact of disaster research for practitioners; the role of multidisciplinary research in the disaster field; developing an international disaster research agenda; the role of research centers in training researchers; funding disaster research and priorities for the future in a post 9/11 environment; the major research areas and issues that need to be developed and explored in the next 5 to 10 years at the national and international level; and establishing collaborative research initiatives across disciplines and geographical boundaries. The DRC was the first Social Science research center in the world devoted to the study of disasters, so it is appropriate and timely that a conference of such magnitude will take place at the University of Delaware at this particular historical moment for the DRC and the field of disaster studies. The aforementioned conference will not only provide a stimulating intellectual environment but it will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center (DRC) and to examine the impact and contributions of the Center to the field of disaster research both nationally and internationally. For further information on this conference, contact Havidan Rodriguez (DRC Director) or Tricia Wachtendorf (Conference Coordinator) at (302) 831-6618.