About

The Humanitarian Frontiers Lab was built on a simple conviction: rigorous research can reduce the impact of disasters and climate change on the communities least equipped to absorb them. Working at the intersection of infrastructure and social systems, our research has bridged engineering and social inquiry across humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation — and worked to ensure that the evidence we generate translates into policy and practice.

The Lab Today

The Humanitarian Frontiers Lab was founded in 2018. Since then, the lab has trained more than 60 students and researchers and delivered more than 20 funded research projects across the Asia-Pacific.

Our doctoral researchers are continuing active research on disaster risk creation, coastal adaptation, and housing vulnerability, and new publications from this work are still emerging. Dr Opdyke now holds an honorary academic appointment and continues to supervise the lab’s current research students through to completion; however, the lab is not taking on new students or beginning new projects. The lab’s publications, data, and other outputs remain openly available through this site.

Our Model

Data

We believe in looking beyond the numbers to value the people behind data, using new methods to see problems differently.

Evidence

We work at the crossroads of engineering and social inquiry, applying innovative tools to make sense of complexity.

Action

We are committed to bridging the academic and practice divide, ensuring that research translates to policy and practice.

Values

Humanity

We value our team and the people in our research as more than just students, staff, or data — recognising their personality, experience, and knowledge.

Ethical

We value integrity. We are reflective on our positionality and the power imbalances in our work to ensure we protect the people involved in our research.

Inclusive

We believe diversity is an asset that enriches our work and fosters ingenuity.

Rigour

We produce defensible research and quality evidence, applying novel methods to produce new knowledge.

Collaboration

We rely on each other; embracing the spirit of helping each other and the recognition that we can accomplish more together than alone.

Engagement

We recognise the importance of connecting with practice. We are committed to disseminating our research to ensure that it is understood, applied, and present in global dialogues.