With GIF support, the Helmholtz-Centre Potsdam-German Research Centre GFZ, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev organized a 3-day workshop on the topic of “Hazards and Risks” from March 13-15, 2023 in Beersheba.
15 German and Israeli young scientists came together to hear keynote lectures on state-of-the-art, and new methods regarding “hazards and risks”. They joined teamwork sessions to elaborate solutions for specific research questions, presented their own research projects and learned about different funding opportunities. Highlight of the workshop, was the one-day excursion to the Dead Sea, an excellent opportunity to experience hazards and risks in the regions of the Dead Sea triggered by natural events (flash floods, earthquakes) and human activity (sinkholes).

Objectives of the Workshop:
Our society is increasingly confronted with natural and anthropogenic-induced hazards and risks on the environment, which can have a tremendous impact. The participating research institutions develop and provide application-oriented knowledge required to tackle these challenges. The thematic scope is broad.Hazards include, for example, seismic or volcanic hazards, hazards caused by geomagnetic storms, energetic radiations, extreme weather or hydrological events, such as flash floods, heatwaves, and droughts. 
The Hazard and Risk theme does not stand alone but needs a more holistic and inter- or even transdisciplinary approach. To tackle the associated societal dimensions “out of the box” thinking, new approaches are needed. We are committed to supporting young scientists in their search for novel approaches and involving and training them in transdisciplinary and cutting-edge research.

Testimony:
“I wanted to say that I had a great time and learned a lot.
It was great to learn about multi-disciplinary perspectives on different types of natural hazards, and to exchange experiences across different fields. Maybe even more important I enjoyed getting to know many different young scientists from or working in Israel and Germany. The style of the workshop with lots of time for discussions allowed us to get to know each other and each other’s work. I am sure some of us will stay in contact and meet again at geoscientific conferences and find ways to collaborate.” Gesa, GFZ Potsdam