When another year comes to an end, it is time for reflection. In the context of natural hazards, it is essential to consider the challenges posed to societies, what went well, what could have been done better, and how we could create a more resilient world.
Just before Big Ben strikes 12 times, marking the moment of a new day and year, and the fireworks are set to begin, our blog editors share their reflections and wishes for the New Year.
Silvia De Angeli
“Dear reader,
As another year comes to an end, I wish for both you and myself that 2025 brings a greater focus on the ‘quality’ rather than the ‘quantity’ of our research. Making a real difference to bridge the gap between science and real-world applications, especially in fields like disaster risk and climate change studies, requires complex, transdisciplinary approaches that demand time and deep reflection.
Let’s take that time back and try to make a meaningful impact.
I leave you with this interesting reading by the fireplace: Liu, J., Wilkinson, C. E., Liu, X., Wang, M., & Cao, X. E. (2024). ‘Revisiting ‘quantity’ and ‘quality’ of science from young scholars.’ Matter, 7(3), 715-717.“
Paulo Hader
“As we step into the new year, my wish is for a world where we prioritise prevention over reaction. In this spirit, I am reminded of the precautionary principle, as articulated by the German philosopher Hans Jonas—a concept that urges us to act preventively, even amid uncertainty, when the consequences of inaction could be catastrophic. Working in disaster research, I am inspired by the potential to save lives and reduce suffering by addressing risks before they escalate. May this year bring more innovation, collaboration and proactive solutions to build safer, stronger and more resilient communities.“
Navakanesh M Batmanathan
“May the year ahead be filled with moments of inspiration, breakthroughs, and the courage to explore the unknown.”
Hedieh Soltanpur
“I wish that motivated supervisors and equally driven PhD students could find each other, as such partnerships have the power to transform the future of science and academia.“
Mina Voskaki
“As the light of 2024 is about to fade, let us all reflect on our actions, knowledge acquired, lessons learned, and progress made. Let us find strength in our exploration, innovate, collaborate and create solutions. May our energy flow endlessly like a river, creating new paths in an ever-changing landscape. May the knowledge gained become a compass to navigate the uncertainties of our world and our future.
As the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle said, ‘Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.“
As we turn this page, the NH Blog team would like to thank all our readers.
Happy New Year from all of us!!!
Post edited by Paulo Hader
