Collection Overview
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications has launched a Guest-Edited Collection on Natural disaster preparation and policy.
Natural disasters are becoming increasingly frequent and complex in nature due to the intersection between variables including, but not limited to, increased population centres, the influence of climate change, and growing economic or social disparities. Their impacts are not only measured in immediate physical damage, loss of life and economic loss, but also in long-term disruptions to communities, infrastructure, and the day to day lives of those affected, sometimes for years afterwards. In 2024 alone, countries such as Spain and the USA requested record totals of funding numbering billions of dollars to combat natural disasters and their myriad effects.
Many geographical areas have been dealing with natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis for centuries and have long-entrenched policies for mitigation and management. However, more modern considerations such as ensuring adequate aid for people with physical or mental disadvantages and catering for issues such as economic disparity have added extra layers of complexity to existing strategies. Additionally, the changing weather patterns and extreme weather events instigated by climate change are now seeing previously untroubled territories having to invest vast amount of resources to develop and instigate new policy and contingencies in order to meet the demands of increasingly frequent events such as heatwaves, floods and violent weather.
This will be a Collection of original research and review papers and will be open for submissions from all authors – on the condition that the manuscripts fall within the scope of the Collection and of Humanities & Social Sciences Communications more generally. We are welcoming submissions until 21st May 2026.
Why is this Collection important?
"As Guest Editor, I see this Collection as a timely platform to advance interdisciplinary research on how societies prepare for and respond to escalating natural disasters under climate change. The topic is deeply relevant as disasters increasingly expose systemic inequalities and test existing governance structures. I am excited to curate contributions that bridge science, policy, and community perspectives to inform more equitable and adaptive preparedness strategies. This Collection can shape global dialogue on disaster resilience, offering researchers a meaningful venue to translate evidence into actionable policy impact." - Dr. Sisi Meng
This Collection also supports and amplifies research related to SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities and SDG 13 - Climate Action.
Why submit to a Collection?
Collections like this one help promote high-quality science. They are led by Guest Editors, who are experts in their fields, and In-House Editors and are supported by a dedicated team of Commissioning Editors and Managing Editors at Springer Nature. Collection manuscripts typically see higher citations, downloads, and Altmetric scores, and provide a one-stop-shop on a cutting-edge topic of interest.
Who is involved?
Guest Editor:
- Sisi Meng, Cornell University, USA
Internal Team:
- In-House Editor: Maree Shirota, Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, UK
- Commissioning Editor: Michael Rimington, Fully OA Brands, Springer Nature, UK
- Managing Editor: Anthony Heron, Fully OA Brands, Springer Nature, UK
How can I submit my paper?
Visit the Collection Page to find out more about this Collection and how to submit your article.