Resilience Live Episode 2 – The Role of Universities in Anticipatory Planning
Air Date: September 28, 2023
In this episode, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay outlines how universities can proactively engage in anticipatory planning to enhance institutional resilience in the face of natural hazards, climate change, and other crises. He discusses the strategic role of academic institutions—particularly through initiatives like UP’s NOAH Center and Resilience Institute—in generating hazard-related knowledge, developing early warning systems, and co-designing solutions with communities. The presentation emphasizes a holistic, systems-level approach, where universities act as research hubs, educators, and policy influencers. By integrating anticipation, coping, and adaptation cycles into their curricula, research, and outreach, universities can better prepare societies for future shocks and drive transformative resilience-building.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay is an Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and Professor at the National Institute of Geological Sciences, University of the Philippines. He is currently the Director of the University of the Philippines Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) Center, established to conduct research, development, and extension services on natural hazards, disaster risk reduction, and climate change. He is also the Executive Director of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute, an institution established by the UP System as an agent of change in the country’s disaster resilience efforts. He is a recipient of the 2008 Outstanding Research Award from DOST, the 2013 Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Outstanding Professional of the Year Award, the 2013 Outstanding Filipino Award (TOFIL), the 2015 Plinius Medal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) and the 2020 StartNetwork Changemaker Award.