Case study in environmental hazards

 

 

Introduction and Aims

 

Imagine you are working for a government department in one of the countries within the MENA region (e.g. Environment, Lands, Agriculture, Geological Survey, Meteorological Office), or perhaps a large non-governmental organisation (NGO).

 

Provide useful information on one particular type of environmental hazard which that country experiences.  The overall goals are:

 

1. To raise awareness among your audience of the hazard and
2. Improve the level of understanding of the causes and either
3. a) the historical impacts or
4. b) the potential future impacts if the hazard might reoccur.

 

 

Objectives

The audience targeted is: A group of scientists from different disciplines attending a scientific conference on environmental hazards, or similar such meeting.

 

 

Title: Tropical Cyclone in Arabian Sea.

 

Mention first that the most significant and frequent natural hazard happens in Arabian sea area is cyclone (small introductory paragraph) , then start including the following  information :

 

• Information about the natural hazard (cyclone) in general:

• Scientific information about the cause of the Cyclone, in using more technical or scientific language
• The definition, formation or process of cyclone, movement,
• Primary and secondary effects and consequences in the physical and human environments

 

• Cyclone in Arabian sea:

 

• The history of cyclone in Arabian sea
• Data on the historical recurrence of the cyclone in Arabian Sea, numbers of casualties, economic costs to the nation, and so on.
• List the cyclone names in Arabian sea
• An example of a recent (major) cyclone event that affected a region (Arabian sea), outlining the significance of the event (The event is: CYCLONE GUNU 2007) includes: how it forms, the duration, the intensity of the cyclone, the impacts in Oman and other countries (The impact of GUNO cyclone on United Arab Emirates MUST be included) .

• Mitigation measures to lower the risks.

 

• Further scientific research that is still needed to improve understanding of the causes, processes and/or impacts of the hazard type.

 

General Hints

 

• Use a sensible combination of both text and illustration.  Illustration means relevant and appropriate maps, labelled diagrams, cross sections, graphs, tables of data, photographs or other visual material.

 

• Consider carefully the following features of your poster (which will be used as marking criteria):

 

• • Structure and layout necessary to maximise clarity and avoid congestion.
  • Use of language/terminology/definitions – written at appropriate levels.
  • Balance between text and illustration.
  • Colour combinations – is your poster visually striking or garish?
  • Readability – is the information presented digestible or confusing?
  • Scientific Content – is this new and inspirational, or familiar and out of date?
  • Retention – is there a clear set of ‘take-home messages’ from the poster?
  • Transferability of information, i.e. can the key points be easily explained by an observer to a third individual or group who has not seen the poster?

 

• Make sure you remember to acknowledge all relevant sources of data and other material. (APA in- text citation and reference list)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Example of the poster

 

 

Source: Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), accessed July 2008 from <http://www.iris.edu/hq/files/programs/education_and_outreach/lessons_and_resources/images/century_poster_l.jpg>.