UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 21, Page 10
February 24, 1994
Researchers focus on disaster issues

     In the past, natural disasters have been regarded as "acts of God,"
beyond the realm of human intervention. In contrast, in the case of
technologically created disasters, such as Love Canal, Bhopal and
Chernobyl, human actions have been held responsible.
     As technological and scientific advances have been made in identifying
and mitigating hazards and in disaster warning, change is likely in the
public judgments of responsibility for the consequences of disaster events.
Issues are already being raised as to who has responsibility for human,
property and economic losses that result from a disaster, whether natural
or technological. The basic question becomes, "Who will be held responsible
for what losses under what conditions?"
     "Whose Responsibility, for What, When? Responsibility Judgments for
Disaster Consequences" is the topic of a symposium held at the American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference Feb. 19 in San
Francisco.
     Organized by Joanne M. Nigg, professor of sociology and criminal
justice and director of the Disaster Research Center, and Valerie Hans,
professor of sociology and criminal justice, both of the University, the
symposium addressed-from a multidisciplinary perspective-the issue of
responsibility when a disaster occurs.
     Paul Durbin, director of the University of Delaware's Center for
Science and Culture and professor of philosophy, discussed the
philosophical bases and ethical issues associated with new scientific and
technological knowledge.
     Concluding the symposium, Hans focused on social psychological
research, supported by the National Science Foundation and conducted by
Hans and Nigg.
                                                  -Sue Swyers Moncure