Advancing Climate Hazard Vulnerability Assessment for Filipinos: My UPPI and UNamur Exchange Program Experience
Ms. Vibar at the University of Namur in Belgium.
In the Spring of 2023, I embarked on a transformative journey through the exchange program between UPPI (University of the Philippines Population Institute) and UNamur (University of Namur) in Belgium.
A few years back, with the world grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, I made the decision to pursue a master's degree in Population Studies at UP. While I was mainly involved in NGO work in farming communities during this time, the decision was largely to acquire improved technical expertise to analyze our projects and stakeholders. The degree could enhance my capacity as an NGO worker to better assess the vulnerabilities of the communities we serve.
Fast forward to the present, I find myself engaged in a research study with Dr. Sebastien Dujardin in the geography department at UNamur led by Dr. Sabine Henry. Over the course of three-and-a-half months, I am taking part in a program aimed at developing a mechanism to determine the social vulnerability of Filipinos to climate hazards. Specifically, my focus lies on analyzing the movement patterns of Filipinos before, during, and after a typhoon strikes the country.
What sets our research apart is the integration of traditional and non-traditional data sources. We combine the rich insights from the 2020 Census of Population and Housing with an unconventional source—Facebook. By harnessing big data and leveraging its near real-time nature, we can identify the location of the most vulnerable individuals in the face of an impending typhoon. This information could help revolutionize disaster risk mitigation and response, allowing us to allocate resources effectively and enhance the overall preparedness of affected communities.
As I continue my research study here in Belgium, I am inspired by the profound impact that collaborative efforts can have on addressing critical challenges. This exchange program has reinforced the significance of meaningful collaborations. It has brought together the expertise of UPPI in demography and population studies with UNamur's advancements in data science and spatial mapping. This synergy between skills, data, and innovation has propelled our research forward and laid the groundwork for further interdisciplinary collaborations in the future.
The UPPI and UNamur exchange program allowed me to go beyond improving my technical skills, all the while experiencing Europe during the springtime!
-Anna Amalia B. Vibar
2005-24290
Share