Disaster preparedness is the focus of the next Social Sciences Today Forum at the University of Colorado Boulder.

The event, titled “Disasters: Can We Be Prepared?” features three experts and is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 26, at noon in Old Main Chapel on the CU Boulder campus. Each faculty member will speak for about 15 minutes and then answer questions. The panelists are:

• Nicholas Flores, Department of Economics

• Emmanuel David, Department of Women and Gender Studies

• Lori Peek, Natural Hazards Center and Department of Sociology

Peek will discuss the complexity of preparing at different levels—ranging from the individual to the societal. She will also emphasize the importance of preparedness for the most vulnerable members of our communities. Flores will discuss the principles and challenges of using insurance to manage catastrophic risk. David will address gender inequalities at various stages of disaster.

The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Center to Advance the Research and Teaching in the Social Sciences (CARTSS) and the College of Arts and Sciences. 

The Social Sciences Today Forum, a series during the school year, is designed to help the public gain broader perspectives and deeper understanding of human society and how individuals relate to the community and one another. This forum brings the knowledge and expertise of social-sciences faculty to the greater community and allows the community to ask questions of leading scholars.