ANNOUNCEMENT

Risk in Time and Space is the central theme of the SRA-Ε Athens 2024. Variability of risks in time and space is one of the most challenging elements. All types of risks (socio-natural, NATECH, technological or other man-induced) are space and time dependent regardless of their hazard origin.

Variability of risks in time and space is associated to variability of their components: hazard, exposure, vulnerability, sensitivity, resilience and adaptive/coping capacity. Hazard variability and unpredictability is mostly evident in the case of climatic and meteorological hazards showing not only unexpected changes over time but also variations between one place and another. Exposure is, indeed, increasing not only because of intensification and higher frequency of certain extreme events but expanding spatial development as well and constant mobility / flows of potentially exposed elements (people, goods and services, investment capital etc.). Regarding vulnerability and resilience/adaptive capacity these are probably the most volatile properties of the exposed entities. Indeed, complex processes of vulnerability transformation, transference and interaction amongst the several vulnerability facets (human, social, economic, institutional, physical) unfold in time and space.

Not only scientific and objective but perceived and subjective risks also are time and space dependent because communities change in the course of their development history and they are featured by different risk experiences, risk knowledge, risk culture, levels of acceptable and tolerable risk and risk governance patterns. 

We welcome contributions related to risk assessment, risk characterization, risk perception, risk communication, risk management, risk governance, and policy relating to risk. All hazards and consequent risks for individuals, public and private sector organizations, and communities at local, national, regional, or global levels are of concern while the emphasis is on risk variations as well as risk management and risk governance transformations and differences in time and space.

LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE AT HAROKOPIO UNIVERSITY

• Kalliopi Sapountzaki, Professor, Department of Geography, Chair of the Organizing Committee;
• Miranda Dandoulaki, Dr., Risk and Disaster Management specialist, Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee;
• Efthymios Karymbalis, Professor, Department of Geography
• Ioannis Daskalakis, PhD student, Department of Geography, Students’ Chair;
• Dafni Ioannidi, PhD student, Department of Geography
• Konstantinos Kavouras, PhD student, Department of Geography
• Nancy Andriakopoulou, student, Department of Geography
• Polykarpos Papadopoulos, Secretary of the Post-graduate Program “Applied Geography and Spatial Planning”
• Loreta Mitsi, administration staff
• Christina Gallousi, administration staff

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

From the Board of SRA-E (current and former members

• Marja Katariina Ylönen, Associate Professor, University of Stavanger, Norway
• Rui Gaspar, Associate Professor, Lusófona University, Portugal
• Ferdiana Hoti, Dr., Umicore, Belgium
• Kalliopi Sapountzaki, Professor, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece
• Jamie Wardman, Associate Professor, University of Leicester, UK
• Angela Bearth, Dr., ETH Zurich, Switzerland
• Tom Jansen, Dr., National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Netherlands
• Mirjana Laban, Professor, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
• Ullrika Sahlin, Associate Professor, Lund University, Sweden
• Frederic Bouder, Professor, University of Stavanger, Norway
• Seda Kundak, Professor, Istanbul Technical University, Turkie
• Ragnar Löfstedt, Professor, Kings college, London, UK 
• Terje Aven, Professor, University of Stavanger, Norway

From European and International Academic and Other Institutions

• Stefan Greiving, Professor, University of Dortmund, Germany
• Cassidy Johnson, Professor, University College London, UK
• Patrick Pigeon, Professor, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, France
• Tony Rey, Professor, Paul Valéry University, France
• Urbano Fra Paleo, Professor, University of Extremadura, Spain
• Roland Nussbaum, Executive Board Member, Association Française pour la Prévention des Catastrophes Naturelles et Technologiques (AFPCNT), Paris, France 
• Scira Menoni, Professor, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
• Elizabeth Krausmann, Dr., Principal Scientist, Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission
• David Caballero, Dr., Head of Forest Fire Department, MeteoGrid, Spain
• Ana Maria Cruz, Professor, Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, President of the Society for Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRiM), Japan

From Academic and other Institutions in Greece

• George Boskou, Associate Professor, Harokopio University of Athens
• Miranda Dandoulaki, Dr., Disaster Management Specialist
• Pavlos Delladetsimas, Professor Emeritus, Harokopio University of Athens
• Michalis Diakakis, Assistant Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
• Evangelia Drakou, Assistant Professor, Harokopio University of Athens
• Nikos Kalligeris, Dr., Principal Researcher, Institute of Geo-dynamics, National Observatory of Athens
• Efthymios Karymbalis, Professor, Harokopio University of Athens
• Petros Katsafados, Professor, Harokopio University of Athens
• George Kritikos, Professor, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece
• Yorgos Melissourgos, Dr., WWF Greece
• Sevastianos Mirasgentis, Dr., Research Director, Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens
• Zoe Nivolianitou, Dr., National Centre for Scientific Research (NCSR) “DEMOKRITOS”
• Angeliki Paidakaki, Assistant Professor, Harokopio University of Athens
• Dimosthenis Panagiotakos, Professor, Harokopio University of Athens
• Panagiotis Rizomiliotis, Associate Professor, Harokopio University of Athens
• Elisavet Thoidou, Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
• Louis Wassenhoven, Professor Emeritus, National Technical University of Athens
• Gavriil Xanthopoulos, Dr., Senior Researcher, Hellenic Agricultural Organization "DEMETER", Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems
• Paraskevi Georgiadou, Dr., Hellenic Institute For Occupational Health And Safety 

Two pre-conference workshops will take place in Athens, Greece, on June 2nd, 2024 between 12:30 and 17 o'clock: 

• Pre-conference workshop for early career professionals (ECP)
• Pre-conference workshop "Trade-offs in Chemical Risk Management: Industry, Toxicology and Social Science Perspectives"

You can register for participation here. Participation is open and free to everyone attending the 32^nd Annual Conference in Athens, Greece. More information below or here.

ECP: Risk Science and Communication

As with the last three SRA-E conferences, there will be a pre-conference workshop organized by the student representatives of the SRA-E chapters, aimed at young researchers who are at the beginning of their careers. The goal of these workshops is to provide a platform for young researchers to interact with others, deepen and broaden their knowledge of risk research topics and general scientific practices, and lastly, inform new SRE-E conference attendees about our society and the regional chapters.

Trade-Offs in Chemical Risk Management

Chemical risk management requires making trade-offs and taking decisions under conditions of uncertainty. This frequently involves considering the perspectives, needs and requirements of regulation, industry and politics. Moreover, it needs to consider the perspectives of various other stakeholders, among them the media, interest groups and the general public. Using case studies (e.g., Poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances PFAS, plastic material), the workshop will take an interdisciplinary look at chemical risk management. Ongoing efforts to overhaul the way chemical risks are assessed and managed will require inputs from different stakeholders. Thus, the workshop brings together stakeholder perspectives and utilises concepts, theories and frameworks from risk research to tackle future challenges in chemical risk management and communication. It will feature input presentations by an interdisciplinary panel of speakers and the opportunity to meet, discuss and reflect with other participants.

This workshop is jointly organised by the consulting company HF Partners and the Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT).

Registrations for the SRA-E 2024 Conference are now open. You may register until the 15th May 2024.Please note that all the participants need to register for the conference (i.e. keynote speakers, panelists, contributors, attendees). You may visit the registration platform by clicking here.

IMPORTANT NOTES

• The Conference Fees include the cost of lunch and coffee breaks for three days, the welcome cocktail, the conference organization and conference material.
• The field trip and the conference dinner at a location nearby Athens are optional and the cost to participate in this event will be announced shortly.
• Keynote speakers are exempted from registration fees.
• Panelists are eligible to register by paying the students' fee accordingly.
• All annual conference registration fees for non-members include a complimentary offer for SRA-E membership valid for the year 2024-2025 (up to the next SRA-E Conference). 

Athens is a touristic city, therefore there is a variety of accommodation options. 

For your convenience, we provide a list of hotels located near the University campus.

The proposed list is not restrictive and availability is not guaranteed. In general, early June when the conference takes place, is a high demand period. Therefore, we urge you to make arrangements for your accommodation as early as possible (PREFERABLY BY EARLY MARCH) 

Proposed accommodation options:

1. Hotel @Syngrou Fix
2. Filopappou Hill Suites by Athens Stay
3. The Convo Syngrou Apartments
4. Ilissos Hotel
5. Supreme Luxury Suites by Athens Stay
6. Art Gallery Hotel
7. Thisean Modern Suites
8. Parea Athens
9. Emporikon Athens Hotel
10. Great Living Koukaki
11. Hercules Residence
12. Jason Inn