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bold, refreshing and welcomed contribution to the research, thinking and teaching on a major challenge to Caribbean development, hazard impacts. It brings a cultural lens to the discourse and lays a platform for bridging the disci- pline divide in the understanding and shaping of policy and action. The 312-page inter-disciplinary anthology of literary writings and science articles for Caribbean secondary schools is divided into seven thematic chapters. Weekes whose own writing is included, was herself responsible for writing questions, notes and activities for students and teachers to use in the classroom. Over 1600 books have already been freely distributed to schools in Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Barbados, Dominica, Montserrat and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Weekes has already conducted readings with a few of the 51 writers who came from 19 territories, in St. Maarten, Barbados, Montserrat, Grenada, and Antigua. Disaster Matters: Disasters Matter is seen as responding to Lewis’s call by taking the opportunity to change the narrative about the stories of hazard impacts, consequences and the ingredients of resilience, examination the thinking and action that is helping to shape Caribbean resilience lens. Much of the academic research on the hazard experiences in the Caribbean has been driven by a desire to understand and model the phenomena. Until recently the footprint of the sociology in the research of hazards and development has been barely visible. Disaster Matters: Disasters Matter is a significant contribution to the emerging body of work which is seeking to unearth the society hazard interface, socio-cultural dimensions and experiences of people and their thoughts and actions that are framing the platform for societal resil- ience. In the Caribbean where the repeated impact of hazards, and the challenge of climate change, are seen to pose an existential threat to states and territories, under- standing how individuals and communities seek to maintain or renew themselves in the presence of these stressors is critical to disaster risk management and resilience policy formulation. This collection provides a window for such understanding by exploring issues about capacity to maintain and develop cultural identity and critical cultural knowledge and practices. Yvonne Weekes and Wendy McMahon have pulled together a spatially, demographic and hazard diverse opening of the
Dr Yvonne Weekes
window on the potential contribution of cultural knowledge and prac- tices to the Caribbean Pathway to Resilient Development. Their goal to dismantle the science and humanity divide which constrains our understanding of individual and collec- tive efforts that frame national resilience is bold,
strategic, and much welcomed. The fully illustrated book uses poetry, drama, prose, and science articles to tell the stories of hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanoes while providing students with the range or career opportunities in Earth Sciences. Disaster Matters: Disasters Matter recognises the pragmatics of the efforts to influence (possibly change) thought and action on disaster risk management and resil- ience. It is structured to engage all levels of the educa- tion value chain. The consultations with the Ministries of Education in the region attest to the authors recognition for urgency in addressing the existential threat to our societies and communities. The content recognises the stakeholder diversity to be engaged in this transformation of risks. It should be a required reading and a key resource in all levels of the education system and within higher education insti- tutions. In that regard, a series of workshops with schools across the region have been planned by the editors for 2023.
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES CAVE HILL CAMPUS ANNUAL REPORT TO COUNCIL 2021/2022
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