Industrial psychologists from the University of Aberdeen are to team up with colleagues from Moscow State University for a key international research workshop to discuss crisis management at the University of Aberdeen this week (Monday 2 - Friday 6 June, 2003).
Professor Rhona Flin and her team in the Industrial Psychology Research Centre have been awarded a prestigious NATO award to host the advanced research workshop Forecasting and Preventing Catastrophes: Understanding Human Factors to Enhance Safety Management Systems. Over five days, leading international experts in the fields of industrial safety and crisis management will join other senior social scientists from various NATO countries and Russia in discussing the forecasting and prevention of catastrophes.
The risks of catastrophic failures in both the natural and technological world remain a critical part of society's systems of safety management. Increasing awareness of vulnerability has highlighted the need for effective predictive, diagnostic and reactive measures. While technical advances in the design of protective systems have improved risk management, there remains a pressing need for a better understanding of the human and organisational factors which contribute to both hazard realisation and to effective mitigation and control.
Professor Rhona Flin, co-director of the meeting said: "We are delighted to have won NATO sponsorship for this exciting workshop. Improving crisis management is now a priority for all sectors of government and industry. This research meeting is bringing together the leading thinkers on safety management in high risk industries and specialists on the causation and management of international crises, such as global terrorism and the SARS virus. There is an urgent need to exchange information relating to our understanding of past events and to develop better mechanisms for enhancing our response capability for the crises to come."
Next week's meeting is part of the new NATO / Russia science programme and is co-funded by NATO and the Russian Ministry of Industry, Science and Technology and follows a similar meeting held in Moscow in January 2002.