Joint Centre for Disaster Research

Disaster risk and science communication is the communication of science advice for individual and organisational decision-making during natural hazard events.

Topic areas include:

• communication of probability forecasts and uncertain science advice
• hypothetical scenarios to explore effective communication
• public response to aftershock information

Emma Hudson-Doyle's profile

We measure community understanding of, and preparedness for, natural hazards including volcanic eruptions. We specialise in participatory methods and risk perception research.

Our results are used to develop scenarios, training tools and educational strategies for communities, businesses and schools.

We also specialise in the use and impact of social networking tools in a disaster context. Our team focuses on people's interactions with information and communication technologies, and how this can contribute to a resilient culture.

Our key area is public information-seeking activities and the self-organising capabilities of disaster-affected communities.

Marion Tan's profile

The Indigenous Disaster Risk Management team engages with Māori communities and other Indigenous peoples.

Topic areas include:

• the role culture plays in facilitating disaster preparedness
• risk mitigation
• emergency management

We also look at disaster recovery and community resilience in the context of humanitarian, health and natural hazard events.

Kelvin Tapuke's profile

We research the psychosocial impact of disasters on health care and social welfare professionals. We advise agencies including the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Health.

We also develop tools and guidelines to empower communities to become resilient to natural hazard events.

Our research focuses on understanding the factors that enable a community to withstand the consequences of natural hazards. We also research local, regional and national factors that influence communities.

Lauren Vinnell's profile
Julia Becker's profile

Warnings comprise an important component of responding to emergencies. We undertake research on different aspects of warnings systems.

Topic areas include:

• the technological components of warnings systems
• preparedness and planning for effective warning
• best-practice warning communication
• understanding human behaviour in warning situations.

We investigate warnings across a range of perils including

• earthquakes
• tsunami
• weather and flood events
• volcanoes
• landslides in both short-fuse and longer term warning contexts

Julia Becker

The coordination and leadership of organisations and communities in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergency situations is a crucial area of research.

Understanding how response and recovery capabilities are most effectively developed, maintained, and learned from is an essential area of emergency management research.

Topic areas include:

• emergency response
• management, planning and response
• recovery management and leadership
• incident command and management
• system development and application
• centre design and operation
• intelligence delivery
• capability development

Jon Mitchel's profile

Our research looks into enhancing disaster resilience through understanding technology and systems and their intersection with human behaviour especially in the context of crises. Our team investigates both the technical feasibility and social acceptability of technological systems.

Topic areas include:

• artificial intelligence
• big data analytics
• decision support systems
• early warning systems
• technology acceptance
• usability, user perceptions and behaviour

We welcome research ideas that use methodologies such as design science and participatory design.

Marion Tan's profile
Raj Prasanna's profile

Potter, S.H.; Charlton, D.H.; Doyle, E.E.H. (2026) Guidance for communicating landslide information. Horetireti Whenua Sliding Lands Endeavour Programme resource. Lower Hutt, NZ.: Earth Sciences New Zealand. Hazard and Risk Data Guidance 2026/01. 13 p.; doi: 10.21420/SW07-KM24 http://dx.doi.org/10.21420/SW07-KM24

Rostami, K., Becker, J. S., Prasanna, R., Vinnell, L. J. (2026, in preparation). Earthquake Early Warning Systems Across Countries: A Comparative Literature Review of Technology and Public Response.

Barsotti, S., Pfeffer, M., Calvari, S., Van Eaton, A., Stewart, C., Freret-Lorgeril, V., Diefenbach, A.K., Carn, S. (2025) Syn-eruptive observations for volcanic hazard quantification. Chapter 3.1 in The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, 3rd Edition, Elsevier.

Chandrakumar, C., Stephens, M. T., & Prasanna, R. (2025). Installation methods for ground motion sensors in a community-engaged earthquake early warning system. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 58(3), 212–218.

Chandrakumar, C., Tan, M.L., Holden, C., Stephens, MT., & Prasanna, R. (2025) Performance Evaluation of a Community‐Engaged Low‐Cost Earthquake Early Warning System for Aotearoa New Zealand. Seismological Research Letters. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220240364

Chandrakumar, C., Tan, M.L., Holden, C., Stephens, MT., & Prasanna, R. (2025). Evaluating P-Wave detection algorithms for earthquake early warning: insights from GeoNet data in Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand. Earth Science Informatics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12145-024-01519-9

Chandrakumar, C., Tan, M. L., Holden, C., Stephens, M. T., & Prasanna, R. (2025). Performance analysis of P-wave detection algorithms for a community-engaged earthquake early warning system: A case study of the 2022 M5.8 Cook Strait earthquake. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Charlton, DH; Clive, MA; Bretherton, E; Lawson, R; Becker, J; Hudson-Doyle, E; Das, M. (2025) How to communicate scientific uncertainty with visuals. Hazard and risk data guidance. 2025/01. Doi:10.21420/JANB-XE44. http://dx.doi.org/0.21420/JANB-XE44

Curd, A.; Vinnell, L.; & Johnston, D. (2025). Exploring the role of search and rescue non-government organisations in emergency events: a systematic review in Aotearoa New Zealand. Australian Journal of Emergency Management. https://doi.org/10.47389/40.1.23

Das, M., Becker, J., & Doyle, E. E. (2025). ‘One big team working together’ - Shifting narratives to encourage civic participation and collective action in disaster preparedness. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105218

Das, M., Becker, J., & Doyle, E. E. (2025b). Exploring communication practices that promote community participation and collective action for reducing disaster risks in New Zealand. Disasters. https://doi.org/10.1111/disa.12690

Das, M., Becker, J. S., Doyle, E. E. H., Charlton, D., Clive, M. A., Krippner, J., Vinnell, L. J., Miller, C., Stewart, C., Gabrielsen, H., Potter, S. H., Leonard, G. S., Johnston, D. M., Tapuke, K., Fournier, N., & McBride, S. K. (2025). The communication of volcano information in New Zealand – a narrative review. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288306.2025.2454558

Das, M., Doyle E.E.H., Potter, S.H., Charlton D.C., Becker J.S., Vinnell, L., Leonard, G.S., Johnston D.M., (2025) Guidelines for communicating likelihood and probability of natural hazards. Lower Hutt (NZ): Earth Sciences New Zealand. 39p. (GNS Science Report; 2025/29). https://doi.org/10.21420/5B4D-Y883

Dhungana, A., Doyle, E. H., Mcdonald, G., & Prasanna, R. (2025). Navigating scientific modelling and uncertainty: Insights from hazard, risk, and impact scientists in disaster risk management (DRM). International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.

Dhungana, A., Doyle, E. E., Prasanna, R., & McDonald, G. (2025). From scientific models to decisions: exploring uncertainty communication gaps between scientists and decision-makers. Environment Systems and Decisions.

Doyle, E. E., Thompson, J., Hill, S., Williams, M., Paton, D., Harrison, S., ... & Becker, J. (2025). Communicating natural hazards science advice: Understanding scientists’, decision-makers’, and the public’s perceptions of the scientific process. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 105731.

Gardner, D., Schauer, B., & Benschop, J. (2025). A review of the Vets on Farm programme: Report prepared by the Massey University Joint Centre for Disaster Research and School of Veterinary Science for the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Wellington, New Zealand: Massey University Joint Centre for Disaster Research and School of Veterinary Science.

Goltz, J.; Nakayachi, K.; & Vinnell, L. (2025). Individual user-derived assessments of earthquake early warning systems: A social science review of response, perception, and evaluation of usefulness. Natural Hazards Review. https://doi.org/10.1061/NHREFO.NHENG-2462

Gordon, S. J., Janicke, H., Weston, J. F., Bolwell, C. F., Benschop, J., Parkinson, T. J., & Gardner, D. H. (2025a). Final-year veterinary students' perspectives on key attributes for career success in clinical practice and on the teaching of professionalism – findings from focus group discussions. Veterinary Record., e5668, e1-e11. 10.1002/vetr.566

Gordon, S. J., Janicke, H., Weston, J. F., Bolwell, C. F., Benschop, J., Parkinson, T. J., & Gardner, D. H. (2025b). Final-year veterinary students' views on essential professionalism attributes and their critique of its teaching. Veterinary Record., e5921 10.1002/vetr.5921

Hameed, S. N., Ranathunga, S., Prasanna, R., Stock, K., & Jones, C. B. (2025). Extracting disaster impacts and impact-related locations in social media posts using large language models. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.21753

Harrison, S. E., Lawson, R. V., Kaiser, L., Potter, S. H., & Johnston, D. (2025). Understanding mariners’ tsunami information needs and decision-making contexts: A post-event case study of the 2022 Tonga eruption and tsunami. iScience, 28(2).

Hayes, J., Kaufman, J., Elissondo, M., Stewart, C. and Magill, C. (2025) Post-eruption clean-up operations and sustainable disaster waste management. Chapter 4.1 in the The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, 3rd Edition, Elsevier.

Hughes, B., Illsley-Kemp, F., Mestel, E., Townend, J., Chandrakumar, C., & Prasanna, R. (2025). Using citizen science Raspberry Shake seismometers to enhance earthquake location and characterization: A case study from Wellington, New Zealand. Seismica, 4(1).

Kaiser, L. H., & Kenney, C. M. (2025a). Emergency managers' perspectives on Māori response and recovery approaches: managing catastrophic hazard events in Aotearoa New Zealand. Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 40(2), 30–38.

Kaiser, L. H., & Kenney, C. (2025b). Media Representations of Indigenous Disaster Risk Management. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Natural Hazard Science.

Kaiser, L. H., Kenney, C. M., & Phibbs, S. R. (2025a). Indigeneity and emergency management: an emic “gaze” on the role of traditional knowledges and cultural practices in emergency management contexts. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, 21(2), 285-297.

Kaiser, L. H., Kenney, C. M., Phibbs, S. R., Saunders, W. S., & Becker, J. S. (2025b). Te Kahu Huruhuru o Kohikohi: Weaving a Kaupapa Māori methodology for climate change research. MAI Journal, 14(1), Article 9.

Lee, M. C. C., & Gardner, D. (2025). Inclusivity and work meaningfulness as mediators between leader’s cultural intelligence and work engagement: A two-wave multilevel study. Psychological Reports, 1-25. 10.1177/00332941251363481

Loh, M. Y., Lee, M. C. C., Dollard, M., Gardner, D., Kikunaga, K., Tondokoro, T., . . . Forsyth, D. (2025). The Generality of Psychosocial Safety Climate Theory—A Fundamental Element for Global Worker Well‐Being: Evidence From Four Nations. Stress and Health, 41, e70070. 10.1002/smi.70070

Mestel, E. R., Smith, B., Tapuke, K., Illsley‐Kemp, F., Kaiser, L., Connon, I., ... & Savage, M. K. (2025). Mahi Tahi‐Rū Whenua: Tangata Whenua & Kairangahau Pūtaiao. Reflective learnings on partnering with Indigenous Māori communities in field‐based scientific research. Community Science, 4(2), e2023CSJ000066.

Miranda, C., Eade, C., Brown, C., Becker, J., & Doyle, E. (2025). Communicating seismic building risk with commercial building tenants. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 58(3), 197-211.

Nakayachi, K., Yokoi, R., & Becker, J. S. (2025). Does statistical evidence change case-based perception of the effectiveness of earthquake early warning?.

Paton, D., Buergelt, P. T., Becker, J. S., Johnston, D., Tedim, F., & Jang, L. J. (2025). Community Engagement Theory: Weaving together emergency management and community development knowledges to reduce disasters and adapt to climate change. In Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Conference 2025.

Porter, H., Wilson, T.M., Weir, A., Stewart, C., Craig, H.M., Wild, A., Paulik, R., Fairclough, R., Buzzella, M., (2025) A new volcanic multi-hazard impact model for water supply systems: Application at Taranaki Mounga, New Zealand. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 116, 105113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.105113

Power, W.L.; Flores Henriquez, C.; Lukovic, B.; Nilsson, D.; Tan, M.; Hudson-Doyle, E.E.; Kuligowski, E.; Boersen, K.; Leonard, G.S.; Thomas, K-L.; Kaiser, L.H; Wilson, T.M; Khan, H. (2025) Tsunami Evacuation Modelling for Napier, Gisborne, and South New Brighton and Southshore. Lower Hutt, NZ: GNS Science. GNS Science report 2025/020. 75 p.; doi: 10.21420/YSA2-8731 https://doi.org/10.21420/YSA2-8731

Ross, K., Becker, J., & Prasanna, R. (2025). Vale distinguished professor David M. Johnston. Emergency Management Australia.

Rostami, K., Becker, J. S., Prasanna, R., Vinnell, L. J. (2025, under review). From Warnings to Actions: Factors Influencing Response to Earthquake Early Warning – A Systematic Literature Review. Earthquake Spectra.

Schneider, M., Wein, A., McBride, S. K., van der Elst, N., Becker, J. S., Castro, R., ... & Page, M. (2025). Meet the People Where They Are: Assessing User Needs for Aftershock Forecast Products in El Salvador, Mexico and the United States. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 105450.

Vinnell, L., Johnston, D., Becker, J., Hudson-Doyle, E., Lindsay, J., Orchiston, C., Tapuke, K., (2025) Influences of comparative risk and recent severe weather experience on earthquake preparation in a lower seismic hazard zone. Australian Earthquake Engineering Society National Conference, 20-22 November 2025, Melbourne, Victoria., https://aees.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/11.-Lauren-Vinnell.pdf

Vivieros, F., Elias, T., Ilyinskaya, E., Balagizi, C., Stewart, C., Ricci, T., Joseph, E.P., Hernandez, P.A. (2025) Chapter 2.4: Volcanic Gas Impacts. In: The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, 3rd Edition, Elsevier.

Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies
An electronic online journal, edited by the Centre and published by the School of Psychology.

Earth Sciences New Zealand
Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake
Online Institutional Repository, Disaster Research Center (DRC), University of Delaware