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New UCC-led EU project brings science, communities and the arts together for better disaster preparedness
How can we better prepare for disasters in a Europe increasingly exposed to floods, storms, heatwaves, wildfires and other hazards? Scientific knowledge, risk maps and early warning systems are essential, but information alone does not always lead people to take preparedness action.
This is the challenge at the heart of AMPLIFY – Amplifying Whole-of-Society Disaster Preparedness through Artistic, Creative and Cultural Engagement, a new €4m Horizon Europe project coordinated by Dr. Lydia Cumiskey from University College Cork’s (UCC) Sustainability Institute.
Bringing together researchers, public authorities, first responders, civil society organisations, communities and creative practitioners from seven European countries, AMPLIFY aims to bridge three dimensions of preparedness: what people know about risk, what they feel about it, and what they ultimately do. Creative and participatory approaches will help connect scientific information with lived experience, making risk communication more accessible, trusted and meaningful.
Particular attention will be paid to people who can be overlooked by conventional risk communication, including persons with disabilities, people with low literacy or low socio-economic status, and young people.
"AMPLIFY starts from a simple premise: disaster preparedness is not only a technical issue. It is also a social, cultural and emotional process. How people understand risk, how they relate it to their own experience, whether they trust the information they receive and whether they feel able to act all play a crucial role in building resilient communities. The project will combine scientific research, creative practice and participatory governance to develop new ways of communicating risk and strengthening cooperation between citizens and authorities," said Dr. Cumiskey.
At the centre of AMPLIFY are four Creative Hubs across Europe:
- Cork, Ireland: Co-hosted by UCC, Cork City Council and The Glucksman, activities will focus on floods, storms and heatwaves, particularly among vulnerable urban communities.
- Enschede, the Netherlands: The focus will be on extreme rainfall and flood preparedness among people with low literacy.
- Italian Hub, across Campania and Veneto: Addressing multiple hazards while working particularly with persons with cognitive disabilities.
- Pan-European Hub: Involving YMCA and Red Cross networks, will explore preparedness for floods, storms, wildfires and other climate-related hazards in youth camps across Europe.
Over three years, AMPLIFY will involve at least 400 participants directly in its Creative Hubs and will co-create and test at least ten creative risk communication solutions. These may include videos, performances, songs, visual artworks, sound installations and other formats designed not simply to raise awareness but to stimulate preparedness and collective action.
The learning generated through the Hubs will also be translated into training, policy and open-access resources. Project outputs will include the Y-Prepare Learning Platform for youth preparedness, the AI-supported Reflect2AMPLIFY reflection tool, a Preparedness Pathways model to help embed participatory approaches within institutions, and an open-access AMPLIFY Toolkit to support the replication of successful methods across Europe.
AMPLIFY brings together 15 beneficiary organisations across seven European countries, combining expertise in disaster risk management, social and behavioural sciences, local governance, emergency response, community engagement, arts and culture, technology and education. The consortium includes:
- University College Cork, The Glucksman and Cork City Council (Ireland);
- University of Salerno, ISSNOVA, the Italian Red Cross and Ombra Luce (Italy);
- Wageningen University, Enschede Municipality, Twente Safety Region, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and Tetem (The Netherlands);
- YMCA Europe (Belgium);
- DREVEN (Greece);
- Pro Progressione (Hungary);
- AMPLIFY also involves three associated partners – the City of Sombor (Serbia), Viimsi Municipality (Estonia) and the Mykolaiv City Council (Ukraine).
Professor John F. Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation, said: "Congratulations to Dr. Lydia Cumiskey and colleagues on securing this prestigious Horizon Europe award. This UCC-led project will combine arts, culture and participatory approaches to address key societal challenges caused by climate change and further strengthen UCC’s position as a recognised global leader in the field of Sustainability research."
About AMPLIFY
AMPLIFY – Amplifying Whole-of-Society Disaster Preparedness through Artistic, Creative and Cultural Engagement is a three-year Horizon Europe research and innovation project funded with almost €4 million by the European Union. Coordinated by University College Cork, it brings together 15 beneficiary organisations and three associated partners across Europe. Through four Creative Hubs and a European network of learning partners, AMPLIFY will develop and test inclusive, creative and science-based approaches to disaster risk communication and preparedness. The project officially began on 1 October 2026.