African Centre for Disaster Studies - NWU

Annual Pat Reid Lecture

In South Africa and Africa as a whole, limited opportunities exist to scrutinize and debate burning issues surrounding disaster risk reduction. For some time the ACDS has considered the idea of implementing an annual lecture that will stimulate consideration and discussion of disaster risk reduction matters. To this end it was decided to introduce the Pat Reid Annual Lecture from 2006.

The naming of the lecture has provided an opportunity to recognise the work and dedication of a pioneer in the disaster risk reduction fraternity in South Africa. The aim of the annual Pat Reid Lecture in Disaster Risk Reduction is to provide a platform from which internationally recognised experts can address a topical disaster risk reduction issue, which will also elicit some debate.

The third lecture, entitled: “Bridging the Gap between Knowledge and Action:  Making Disaster Prevention Stick”, was given by Dr. Marla Petal, co-director of Risk RED on Friday the 23^rd of January 2009.