In October, Réunion Island celebrates both the Science Festival and the Resilience Month. Exposed to numerous natural hazards (cyclones, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides), the island plays a key role in the European Synergies project, which aims to promote a risk culture and natural disaster prevention.

An Educational Pathway for Prevention

As part of the Science Festival, an educational pathway is organized to raise public awareness of natural hazards through workshops, exhibitions, and conferences. At the Jardin de l’État, visitors can participate in workshops on natural hazards, while the “Earth Movements” exhibition will explore geological phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

In addition to the workshops, several conferences and screenings will take place during the month:

• On October 7, a conference on tsunamis at the Moufia Campus in Saint-Denis.
• On October 10, at the Cité des Métiers in Saint-Pierre, a conference on the mysteries of the submerged Basilica of Iznik.
• On October 12, at the Cité du Volcan, a conference by the Piton de la Fournaise Volcano Observatory (OVPF) will be followed by the screening of the film “The Mysterious Volcano of the Middle Ages”.

The Risk Caravan

The Resilience Month also includes local actions such as the Risk Caravan, which will raise awareness of specific dangers in different parts of the island:

• In Salazie, the caravan will focus on landslides.
• In Saint-Paul, it will address coastal risks such as coastal erosion and marine submersion.

These mobile workshops aim to explain prevention measures and the behaviors to adopt in the face of natural hazards.

Ultra-Marine Seminar on Natural Hazards

In partnership with the French Association for the Prevention of Natural and Technological Disasters (AFPCNT), an ultra-marine seminar will bring together experts and decision-makers to discuss risk management in overseas territories. The seminar aims to share best practices and strengthen the resilience of territories particularly vulnerable to natural disasters.

Towards a More Resilient Island

By actively participating in these events, the residents of Réunion Island strengthen their understanding of natural risks and develop an essential risk culture. The European Synergies project, with Réunion Island as a pilot case, aims to create a risk management model applicable to other island territories, focusing on prevention, risk reduction, and resilience.

This October highlights the island’s collective commitment to sustainable natural hazard management by promoting science, education, and local action to protect populations from future disasters.