DRI Hackathon – Connecting Research with Practice

The intricate interdependencies of infrastructure in mountain regions amplify their vulnerability to cascading hazards, a challenge further intensified by climate change impacts. These risks threaten fragile mountain ecosystems and create far-reaching downstream effects, disrupting critical services and livelihoods. Mountains require distinct and concerted policy focus, recognizing them as unique and vulnerable regions within international, national, and local policy frameworks. Infrastructure built with conventional codes and standards, may not be able to cope with the increased risks, effectively locking in the risk in these infrastructure systems. Presently the challenges towards investment in resilient mountain infrastructure centre around gaps in knowledge and standardized frameworks. This side event is conceptualized as a hackathon where participants will be organized into two groups – Group A focussing on Risk Assessments, and Group B focussing on Implementation measures such as Construction, Standards & Codes, including for Nature-based Solutions, etc. The groups will brainstorm and present a pitch to address the issue of linking emerging research with the mainstream practice and translating knowledge to action. The 135mins. session will be structured as follows: Context Setting and House Rules (15 minutes) Brain-Storming/Group Exercise, Presentation preparation (75 minutes) Pitch by each group (10+10 minutes) Q & A (20 minutes) Wrap Up (5 minutes)