The Earth can be a danger place and is often made more dangerous by human intervention. Crucial to minimising the hazard potential from different geological threats facing people all over the world is the accurate assesment and communication

Some important questions which address the role of the natural sciences in providing the background information for public policy and government decision making are:-

1.How have humans altered the geo sphere, the biosphere and the landscape, thereby helping to trigger certain hazards and increasing societal vulnerability to them?

2.What technologies and methodologies are required to assess the vulnerability of people and places to hazards and how might these be used at a variety of spatial scales?

3.How does our current ability to monitor, predict and mitigate vary from one geo hazard to another? What methodolo- gies and new technologies can improve such capabilities, and so help civil protection locally and globally?