Prerequisite:

Second-cycle Bologna degree in the relevant track or a university (level VII) degree

Content (Syllabus outline):

Natural disasters are presented as part of the landscape and as an important topic in technicized and individualized modern society. Natural disasters are often overlooked but important factors for development due to the diversity and high number of effects that cause limitations to society. Featured are the most important causal (influential factors, the combination), space-time (spatial arrangement of events, frequency), magnitude of the phenomenon (and its variability) and major physical-geographic (types of events in Slovenia and around the world) and human-geographic aspects (disaster management, vulnerability, hazard and risk of natural disasters, communication, education, memory, psychology, culture) of natural disasters and the basic methods of modern science in the field of natural hazards.

Readings:

• Keller, E. A., DeVecchio, D. E., Blodgett, R. H. 2019: Natural hazards : Earth’s processes as hazards, disasters, and catastrophes. London, New York. Routledge.
• Burby, R. I. 1998: Cooperating with nature – confronting natural hazards with land-use planning for sustainable communities. Washington.
• Mikoš, M., Fazarinc, R., Majes, B. 2007: Delineation of risk area in Log pod Mangartom due to debris flows from the Stože landslide. Acta geographica Slovenica 47-2.
• Walker, G., Whittle, R., Medd, W., Watson, N. 2010: Risk governance and natural hazards. http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/49475/1/WP2_final.pdf
• Wisner, B., Blaikie, P., Cannon, T., Davis, I. 1994: At risk – natural hazards, people’s vulnerability and disasters. Routledge.
• Komac, B., Zorn, M. 2007: Pobočni procesi in človek. Geografija Slovenije 15. Ljubljana.

Objectives and competences:

The aim of the course is to present the key issues on natural disasters with the focus on sustainable development, and holistic understanding with spatial, economic and social aspects of natural disasters, particularly their causes and effects.

Based on the acquired knowledge, students will be able to comprehensively evaluate the importance and the (possible) effects of natural disasters on the local, regional and national levels and become familiar with the fundamentals of the EU’s approach to the problem.

They will master the latest theories and concepts/approaches to natural hazards and understand modern trends.

Intended learning outcomes:

• Knowledge of the theories, concepts, models and methods in the field of studying natural hazards
• The ability to identify key influencing factors and their placement in the landscape
• The ability of a comprehensive understanding of the problem
• The ability of disaster management
• Knowledge of relevant methods enabling students to study natural hazards in a selected area
• Knowledge of the concepts of vulnerability, hazard and risk, and the ability of their comprehensive analysis of the selected area, including geographical information systems.

Assessment:

Oral exam (100 %).