.png)
Publications
It is always a happy day when your research gets published... Here are some highlights
COVID-19
The failure of decision-makers to appropriately address the economic constraints imposed on the public during prolonged disasters, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, is likely to lead to a reduction in public trust in the government and a decrease in societal resilience.
Social resilience and trust are two primary components of mitigating the spread of contagious diseases. Although measures such as the imposition of national lockdowns and self-quarantines have been proven effective in reducing morbidity, their efficacy depends on public trust and compliance. The purpose of this study was to assess public attitudes toward the COVID-19 outbreak over the course of a year. A cohort study of the adult population in Israel was conducted during three waves of COVID-19 morbidity in that country, with February 2020 as the baseline, March 2020 as the first wave, August 2020 as the second, and January 2021 as the third. The results suggest a relationship between risk perception and compliance with health regulations. Moreover, trust is a significant component of public compliance. Fluctuations in risk perception and trust were found to affect compliance with regulations.
Disaster Risk Reduction
Given the depth of difference across hazard types, we should contemplate the implications on the architecture of disaster planning and response
For decades, the All-Hazards Approach has been the principle framework of disaster planners. According to this approach, different hazard scenarios share commonalities and should be managed with standard hazard mitigation and preparedness plans. The All-Hazards approach presents several arguable advantages; yet, when tested against reality, it often fails to deliver optimal results in terms of public preparedness. Despite best intentions, this framework has inherent weaknesses, notably the artificial consolidation of dramatically different hazard scenarios. Given the depth of difference across hazard types, we should contemplate the implications on disaster planning and response architecture. Here we argue for an alternative approach, the Top-Hazards Approach, which delineates that hazards should be prioritized according to local risk indicators and then differentially dealt with so that top-ranking hazards are given priority in preparedness and planning activities. The Top-Hazard Approach retains some of the critical benefits of the All-Hazards Approach, namely cost-effectiveness while offering a more robust framework for achieving better levels of preparedness
Disaster planning and policy
Wisdom of (using) the crowds: Enhancing disasters preparedness through public training in Light Search and Rescue
Following significant earthquakes, the vast majority of trapped survivors are rescued by laypersons within the first 24–48 h. Most trapped individuals require only Light Search and Rescue (LSR). Therefore, there is a sense of training public members in LSR competencies to upsurge survivability rates. Light Search and Rescue training for Israeli high-school students was performed. The training was beneficial in improving resilience, self-efficacy, and knowledge. The effect of the training on these measurements ranges from medium to high. Participants finish the training with equally high levels of performance.
Climate Crisis
Young Adults’ Education and Empowerment for Climate Action through Education for Sustainable Development
Climate change is a major driver of disasters worldwide, yet traditional fear-based communication often leads to climate anxiety rather than constructive action. This paper highlights the importance of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and agency to engage meaningfully in climate action. Using the “Speak to Me in Numbers” program as a case study, the findings show how data-driven, interdisciplinary learning fosters critical thinking, local activism, and environmental citizenship. By balancing awareness with empowerment and tangible solutions, such initiatives enable young people to become resilient agents of change in their communities and beyond.
Risk Communication
Risk Messaging Style and Earthquake Preparedness
Earthquakes pose a major threat in Israel, yet household preparedness remains inadequate. This study compared fear-based and empowerment-based risk communication to evaluate their effectiveness in motivating preparedness actions. Results from a longitudinal intervention showed that while participants exposed to empowerment messages consistently reported higher preparedness, the difference was not statistically significant, partly because fear-based messaging was also perceived as empowering. Gender, age, perceived likelihood of an earthquake, and a sense of preparedness emerged as significant predictors. The findings suggest that risk messaging should emphasize empowerment and optimism over fear to foster sustainable preparedness behaviors.