Natural Hazard Management (NHM)

Programme Structure:

You study three modules of Natural Hazard Management in your first two years, and up to four modules in the final year - the majority of these modules run from October through to April/May. The First Year is a foundation year that exposes you to a wide range of skills and knowledge, from which to specialise in Years 2 and 3.

Level 4 (First Year)

In Year 1 you study core modules in Physical Geography and Geology and People, Hazards and Resources. These modules provide an introduction to the physical processes that control tectonic, geomorphic and meteorological hazards, and the social, economic and political dimensions to human vulnerability to hazard. You also take a module on Foundations for Successful Studentship which is designed to help you make an effective transition into study in higher education, and which starts to develop key laboratory and field skills. This module includes a week-long residential fieldtrip to Devon to introduce field and laboratory methods that can be employed to study hazard processes and help design management strategies.

Level 5 (Second Year)

In Year 2 you study advanced aspects of Hazard Processes and Human Vulnerability. This involves exploring in greater depth the mechanisms behind key geomorphological and hydrological hazards such as landsliding, soil erosion, coastal erosion and flooding, as well as influences upon individual and community hazard perception and response. There are fieldtrips to various UK locations.

Enquiry and Research Design develops field and laboratory skills, before focusing on the process of applying these to the design of a field- or laboratory-based research project in hazard management (which might ultimately translate into a Year 3 Dissertation or Independent Project on a natural hazards topic - see below). For NHM students this module incorporates a strand in Geomatics Techniques, which provides an introduction to the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) - including digital mapping, GPS, satellite remote sensing and aerial photo interpretation - in hazard management.

In the summer term the programme offers the opportunity to complete an Experiential or Work Based Learning module in a hazards-related context. This might entail, for example, a placement in the GIS unit of a local authority or environment agency, or an overseas placement arranged individually or through the University. Alternatively, the department runs a two-week Experiential Learning experience of its own to a research centre in southern Spain to study problems of desertification and soil erosion in Europe's driest region. Finally, in the summer of Year 2 there is an optional expedition to Norway for students wanting to supplement this experience with two weeks' fieldwork in glacial environments. This provides an opportunity to collect data for a Year 3 Dissertation on hazard processes such as rockfall or avalanching.

Level 6 (Final Year)

In Year 3 you have the option to major in Natural Hazard Management (four modules), minor in NHM (two modules) or continue to study your two subjects in equal proportions (three modules of each).

The core (double) NHM module is Natural Hazard Assessment and Mitigation. This includes a residential field trip to Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples to explore (earthquake and volcano) hazard management and emergency planning in a large urban environment. The second part of this core module focuses on UK coastal, slope and river management in the context of climate change and the pressure to develop land (e.g. for housing).

Students majoring in NHM will also be expected to complete a Dissertation (extended research project - double module) or Independent Project (single module) on a hazards topic of their choice, and to take an optional module from a list that currently includes: Sustainable Futures, Geomatics Applications (Remote Sensing and GIS), Climate Change: Recent record and future prospects and Geoconservation. Many final year modules involve collaboration with external agencies/practitioners in course delivery and assessment.

Student dissertations in recent years have encompassed a range of hazard topics including: coastal erosion in Norfolk, community recovery from flooding (Towyn and Shrewsbury), rockfall hazard along the A55 Expressway in North Wales, flood hazard perception and response at Limburg (Netherlands), coastal landslide hazard impact and management on the Isle of Wight, emergency preparedness around the Colima volcano (Mexico), and recovery from hurricane impact in Honduras.