This course will look at both natural and human-induced environmental hazards and what their study can tell us about how humans interact with the environment. We will look at how a number of concepts (e.g. privilege/poverty; time/change; scale/intensity; risk/vulnerability) can inform our understanding of both hazards and institutional reactions thereto. As members of the ADF, it is quite likely at some point you will be involved in a relief operation either in Australia or overseas. An understanding of the nature of hazards, hazard mitigation and emergency management will help to prepare you for participation in these activities.