Science and Policy of Natural Hazards
Earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural catastrophes get examined from both a scientific and policy angle in this MIT OpenCourseWare course from the Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences department. Lessons cover the physical causes and effects of these hazards, how well scientists can predict them, and how that predictive knowledge feeds into decisions made by policymakers. The course puts heavy emphasis on communication skills, with intensive practice writing and presenting scientific research and summaries aimed at a policy audience rather than fellow scientists. Materials include the syllabus, assignments, and readings as published by MIT OCW, free to access with no certificate offered. It suits students wanting to understand not just why the ground shakes or storms form, but how that science gets translated into public policy debates and decisions.