Shape x Stem Talk Series: Disaster Across Disciplines

How can scientists and humanities scholars work together to better understand—and mitigate—the effects of natural disasters?

A SHAPE x STEM Talk Series brought humanities and science scholars into conversation, exploring how different fields can offer new ways of understanding disasters and their impact.

Hosted by the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CoHASS), the session featured Nanyang Assistant Professor Adam Bobbette, Assistant Professor Tapsi Mathur and Professor Adam D. Switzer, with Professor Jon Wilson, Dean of CoHASS, moderating the discussion and Q&A.

Drawing on perspectives from history, geography and geoscience, the speakers explored how disasters unfold at the intersection of the social and physical worlds. The discussion challenged conventional disciplinary boundaries, highlighting how questions about landscapes, communities, environments and risk often demand different forms of knowledge to be considered together.