Discourse on Risk, Social Vulnerability, and Environmental Justice Epistemologies in Disaster Research

Thursday, July 17, 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. MDT
Location: Interlocken C

Discourse on Risk, Social Vulnerability, and Environmental Justice Epistemologies in Disaster Research

The sociological approach to disaster incorporates critical lenses to examine risk, social vulnerability, and environmental justice. This roundtable discussion will engage with foundational and contemporary scholarship to explore how these epistemologies shape disaster studies. Social disaster research initially focused on organizational response and human behavior in crises and later expanded the discourse by positioning vulnerability as a function of systemic inequalities rather than merely exposure. The concept of risk has similarly transitioned from technical assessment to a socially constructed phenomenon, influenced by power dynamics and governance structures. Environmental justice foundations have further enriched disaster research by highlighting how marginalized communities disproportionately experience environmental hazards, amplifying calls for equity-focused resilience strategies. This roundtable discussion will critically examine how these frames intersectionally inform and advocate for justice-centered approaches to disaster research. Disaster studies continue to show that by integrating intersectional analyses, researchers can address the limitations of traditional models that overlook historical and structural determinants of risk. Participants will engage in dialogue about methodological advancements, implementation of these frameworks, and future priorities that better center marginalized voices in disaster research. This roundtable will facilitate interdisciplinary discourse that further develops epistemologies that promote equitable disaster resistance and resilience in natural hazard contexts.