Erin Smith
Print version
Contact details
Department of Geography
King's College London
4th Floor
King's Building
Strand
London
WC2R 2LS
Email: erin.2.smith@kcl.ac.uk
King's College London
4th Floor
King's Building
Strand
London
WC2R 2LS
Email: erin.2.smith@kcl.ac.uk
Research
Subject: Effective disaster risk reduction strategies in regions of complex emergencies
Purpose: Identifying drivers and barriers to increasing the effectiveness of DRR strategies in regions of complex emergencies
Title: Negotiating securities: Examining institutions of DRR in Sri Lanka
Erin's research focuses on understanding and enhancing governance strategies to foster effective disaster risk reduction programs. She is particularly interested in issues of interoperability and coordination between and within organizations and communities. Erin has recently completed a background paper on the role of the media in disasters, and feels that this area of work is strongly relevant to the field of risk reduction and disaster response strategies. Her focus area is Sri Lanka, where she was living and working when the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami hit – this experience was the direct catalyst for her wanting to enhance risk reduction strategies.
Erin is supervised by Dr. Mark Pelling and Dr. Glyn Williams. Her work corresponds with the interests and expertise of The Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk (HVR) Research Unit of the Department of Geography. Erin is partially funded through the Overseas Research Student Awards Scheme, and is also a British Council Chevening Scholar.
Purpose: Identifying drivers and barriers to increasing the effectiveness of DRR strategies in regions of complex emergencies
Title: Negotiating securities: Examining institutions of DRR in Sri Lanka
Erin's research focuses on understanding and enhancing governance strategies to foster effective disaster risk reduction programs. She is particularly interested in issues of interoperability and coordination between and within organizations and communities. Erin has recently completed a background paper on the role of the media in disasters, and feels that this area of work is strongly relevant to the field of risk reduction and disaster response strategies. Her focus area is Sri Lanka, where she was living and working when the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami hit – this experience was the direct catalyst for her wanting to enhance risk reduction strategies.
Erin is supervised by Dr. Mark Pelling and Dr. Glyn Williams. Her work corresponds with the interests and expertise of The Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk (HVR) Research Unit of the Department of Geography. Erin is partially funded through the Overseas Research Student Awards Scheme, and is also a British Council Chevening Scholar.
Biography
Erin is currently pursuing her PhD in Geography at King’s College London, Her research focuses on strengthening the effectiveness of disaster risk reduction for regions of conflict. This interest is driven by her work experiences in pre- and post-tsunami Sri Lanka.
Erin holds an MA from the University of Guelph and an HBA from Queen’s University, both in Geography, and is a SSHRC fellow, as well as an ORSAS and British Council Chevening Scholar. Erin is the founder and director of Young Professionals for Disaster Risk Reduction (YPDR), a network which fosters effective disaster management initiatives on an international level, and has pursed various international research projects and placements with partners ranging from local NGOs to global consortiums.
Outside the realm of academia, Erin’s passion is issue-based photography, a pursuit which has led to a fledging freelance career and a strong interest in harnessing the power of the media for development. After completion of her PhD, she hopes to take a much needed break in Cuba before continuing work in human rights, conflict and disaster management.
Erin holds an MA from the University of Guelph and an HBA from Queen’s University, both in Geography, and is a SSHRC fellow, as well as an ORSAS and British Council Chevening Scholar. Erin is the founder and director of Young Professionals for Disaster Risk Reduction (YPDR), a network which fosters effective disaster management initiatives on an international level, and has pursed various international research projects and placements with partners ranging from local NGOs to global consortiums.
Outside the realm of academia, Erin’s passion is issue-based photography, a pursuit which has led to a fledging freelance career and a strong interest in harnessing the power of the media for development. After completion of her PhD, she hopes to take a much needed break in Cuba before continuing work in human rights, conflict and disaster management.
