Dr Robert Emmett Alexander
IAS Residential Fellow
Independent Research Scholar
Dr. Bob Alexander (https://rlrmc.barefootbob.net) is an independent researcher, trainer, consultant, risk communication and community engagement / social and behavioural change communication specialist, and music and film recording artist and producer who has worked on participatory integrated vulnerability reduction and resilience strengthening in marginalized areas prone to disaster, conflict, climate change, and maldevelopment related risks for over 30 years.
He holds a Ph.D. from an integrated environmental science and social science Natural Resources and Environmental Management program for which his research included field work on better understanding and incorporating different types of integration for improved locally driven assessments, decision-making, and action for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation as components of sustainable development.
His work and publications focus on prospective risk-managed community development; community-based risk management and community-based adaptation; sustainable livelihood, food, nutrition, and social service security; integrated socioeconomic vulnerability identification, analysis, assessment, and reduction; and effective risk communication and community engagement approaches, including uses of music, film, and other arts to encourage dialogue, decision-making, and action for disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development.
Professional roles have included senior advisory research consultancies on coupled human-environment systems approaches to vulnerability reduction and resilience strengthening. Academic roles have included research affiliate, adjunct faculty, and supervisor/advisor of student research at various universities; journal and UN publication reviewer; and co-coordinator, lecturer, and research advisor for disaster risk management advanced institutes run by the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) International Centre of Excellence.