"Collectively we are stronger - engineers generating collaborative solutions to strengthen community resilience post-disaster"Duncan Gibb - Executive General Manager SCIRT
The second lecture of the Institution of Civil Engineers' 10th Brunel International Lecture series was held on Wednesday June 18th at Cambridge University's Engineering Department.
The lecture, "Collectively we are stronger - engineers generating collaborative solutions to strengthen community resilience post-disaster", was given by Duncan Gibb, Executive General Manager of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT).
Duncan's fascinating lecture comes on the back of SCIRT winning the Brunel Award for 2013. His lecture provided a captivating insight into the formation of SCIRT and the challenges involved in rebuilding the infrastructure of an active city. Duncan focussed particularly on the need to involve the community in decision-making and empowering people, both inside and outside the organisation.
The Engineering Department's Centre for Sustainable Development PhD candidate Kristen MacAskill has worked on the Christchurch rebuild and is in Cambridge to research decision-making in post-disaster infrastructure reconstruction, This placed her well to lead the Q&A with her former boss, Duncan.
Duncan's personal stories mixed with insights into juggling community needs with infrastructure rebuild was very much appreciated by the Cambridge audience and we wish Duncan well on the next 24 months of the Brunel International Lecture tour!
Photo credit: Larissa Moore, CSIC