Building Disaster Knowledge. Strengthening Resilience.
The institutional development of SPS-DRM is a story of scientific research, professional education, field training, academic publishing and cooperation dedicated to safer and more resilient communities.
Members connecting science, professional practice and education.
Students attended the first three-day national seminar in 2021.
Professors and emergency-management experts involved in the 2021 seminar.
Countries represented in one recent 31-paper IJDRM issue.
SPS-DRM was created from the conviction that effective disaster risk reduction requires a permanent bridge between scientific evidence, professional expertise, operational experience and the needs of communities.
Founded on 15 June 2018 by Prof. Dr. Vladimir M. Cvetković, the Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management developed as a non-governmental and non-profit professional and scientific organization.
From the outset, the Society sought to connect university professors, researchers, students and young professionals with emergency services, police, firefighters and rescuers, medical services, security professionals, civil society organizations and other actors involved in disaster risk management.
The underlying idea was simple but ambitious: knowledge about disasters should not remain isolated inside academic institutions. Research, education and operational experience should work together to improve prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and community resilience.
From a professional network to a disaster knowledge ecosystem.
SPS-DRM progressively expanded from scientific and professional networking into field education, national seminars, research infrastructure, publishing, public awareness and international knowledge exchange.
Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management established
SPS-DRM was founded on 15 June 2018 to advance scientific and professional knowledge in disaster risk management and to strengthen cooperation between researchers, practitioners, institutions and communities.
Participation in the international field exercise “SERBIA 2018”
Members and students participated in the international emergency-response field exercise held in Mladenovac from 8 to 11 October 2018, organized by the Serbian Ministry of Interior – Sector for Emergency Situations and the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre.
Practical training becomes a core pillar of SPS-DRM
Training programmes expanded to include orientation and navigation, inaccessible-terrain rescue, first aid, protection and rescue, topography, rescue from heights, emergency response and practical disaster-management scenarios.
Development of the International Journal of Disaster Risk Management
Academic publishing became one of the Society's central mechanisms for connecting researchers from Serbia, the region and the international disaster-studies community.
Civil protection, public engagement and crisis support
SPS-DRM activities included marking World Civil Protection Day and the participation of members and associates in assistance activities for vulnerable residents of Belgrade during the coronavirus epidemic.
International Institute for Disaster Research established
On 21 December 2020, the International Institute for Disaster Research was established as an organizational unit of the Society, creating a dedicated framework for basic, applied and developmental disaster research.
First National Three-Day Seminar on Protection and Rescue Tactics
The seminar “Tactics of Protection and Rescue in Emergency Situations: Field Experiences and Lessons Learned” was held at Kolarac Endowment in Belgrade from 16 to 18 April 2021, gathering more than 250 students and over 50 professors and experts.
National Security Training for Youth in Guča / Lučani
A multi-day national field programme brought young people together for intensive practical education in emergency preparedness, protection and rescue. Training was supported by instructors and professionals from emergency services and relevant organizations.
Second National Seminar on Disaster Risk Management
From 15 to 17 December 2023, SPS-DRM organized the Second National Seminar on Disaster Risk Management, bringing together experts, practitioners and young participants around contemporary security, civil-protection and emergency-management challenges.
Expanding books, monographs, educational materials and research
SPS-DRM continued to strengthen its publishing portfolio through university textbooks, research monographs, professional manuals, thematic collections and public disaster-education materials.
Modernized publishing, continuing education and international outreach
The Society's development continues through new training activities, international scientific cooperation, digital professional networking, public education and contemporary disaster-risk-management publishing.
Learning disaster management beyond the classroom.
SPS-DRM's educational philosophy combines theoretical knowledge with field-based experience, scenario exercises, interdisciplinary instruction and practical preparedness skills.
SERBIA 2018 Field Exercise
Participation with students in a major international exercise focused on emergency-consequence management and operational disaster response.
Stara Planina Field Training
Intensive multidisciplinary field education included rescue, first aid, topography, inaccessible-terrain operations, fire and explosion response, CBRN awareness and other emergency-management competencies.
Košutnjak Search & Orientation Training
Practical orientation training supported participants in developing navigation skills relevant to protection and rescue operations in emergencies.
Ovčar–Kablar Basic Safety Training
A multi-day field programme dedicated to disaster risk management, protection and rescue, practical skills and emergency-response preparedness.
Tactics of Protection and Rescue
The 2021 National Seminar connected young participants with professors and experienced practitioners and transformed field experience into structured professional knowledge.
Guča / Lučani Preparedness Programme
Young participants completed an intensive practical programme supported by professionals from emergency services, rescue organizations, universities and other relevant institutions.
From preparedness to operational response.
SPS-DRM training programmes have covered a broad spectrum of competencies relevant to disaster preparedness, civil protection, rescue and emergency response.
Tactics of Protection and Rescue in Emergency Situations: Field Experiences and Lessons Learned
Turning field experience into shared professional knowledge.
SPS-DRM and the International Institute for Disaster Research organized the first national three-day seminar for youth and students, bringing together participants from universities and faculties with academics, emergency professionals and experts.
The event represented an important transition in the Society's development: training, scientific discussion and professional experience were integrated within a single national educational platform.
Building a permanent knowledge base.
Publishing has developed alongside SPS-DRM's educational and research activities, creating textbooks, monographs, practical manuals, thematic collections and scientific resources for researchers, students, practitioners and decision-makers.
Collection of Regulations in the Field of Disaster Risk Management
A professional reference supporting understanding of disaster-risk-management regulations and institutional practice.
19Disaster Risk Management
University textbook addressing the theoretical and practical foundations of contemporary disaster risk management.
20Disaster Myths: Truths and Misconceptions
Scientific monograph examining misconceptions and evidence-based understanding of disasters.
21Nuclear Disasters Management
Scientific publication dedicated to the complex challenges of nuclear-disaster management.
21Security Risks and Disasters
Practical educational resource linking disaster studies with contemporary security risks.
21Risk Management and Disaster Protection and Rescue Systems
Practical guide developed to support theoretical and applied education in risk management and rescue systems.
21Tactics of Protection and Rescue in Disasters
Textbook focused on the organization and operational dimensions of protection and rescue.
22Legal and Security Aspects of Disaster Risk Management
Thematic scientific collection exploring legal and security dimensions of natural and anthropogenic disasters.
22Disaster Resilience – A Guide for Prevention, Response and Recovery
Professional resource addressing resilience across the disaster management cycle.
23Integrated Disaster Risk Management: Preparedness, Mitigation, Response and Recovery
Integrated treatment of the major functional phases of contemporary disaster risk management.
24Community Disaster Resilience in Serbia
Research publication focused on community resilience and disaster-risk-reduction capacity.
24Essential Tactics of Search and Rescue in Disasters
Professional and educational work focused on search-and-rescue tactics in disaster environments.
24Disaster Risk Management: Theory, Concepts and Methods
Revised and expanded university textbook integrating contemporary theory, risk assessment, methods, modelling and decision-making.
26International Journal of Disaster Risk Management
IJDRM has become a major component of the SPS-DRM knowledge ecosystem, providing an international open-access platform for interdisciplinary research on disasters, hazards, policy, preparedness, response, recovery and resilience.
Knowledge designed for communities.
Scientific knowledge creates greater societal value when it becomes understandable, accessible and actionable. SPS-DRM therefore develops educational materials and guidance covering a broad spectrum of hazards and preparedness challenges.
International Institute for Disaster Research
Strengthening the scientific foundations of SPS-DRM.
The establishment of the International Institute for Disaster Research marked a major stage in the Society's institutional development.
The Institute provides a framework for basic, applied and developmental scientific research across disaster phenomenology, preparedness, risk mitigation, protection and rescue, recovery, international cooperation and disaster-related legal frameworks.
One mission. Multiple pathways to resilience.
Research
Quantitative, qualitative, applied and developmental research addressing hazards, vulnerability, preparedness, response, recovery and resilience.
Education
Seminars, courses, lectures, field training, professional development and educational resources designed for multiple target groups.
Publishing
International scientific journals, university textbooks, monographs, thematic collections, professional manuals and brochures.
Cooperation
Connecting universities, emergency services, professionals, researchers, civil society, students and international partners.
Risk Assessment
Expert analysis, disaster-risk assessment, planning and support for evidence-informed preparedness and decision-making.
Field Training
Practical learning environments developing essential competencies for protection, rescue, emergency response and preparedness.
Innovation
Contemporary knowledge, digital resources and new approaches supporting the modernization of disaster risk management.
Societal Resilience
Translating research and expertise into stronger preparedness, safer communities and improved capacity to withstand disasters.
Resilience is built through networks.
SPS-DRM's institutional strength lies in its ability to connect individuals and organizations that approach disasters from different professional perspectives but share a common objective: reducing risk and protecting society.
From understanding risk to creating resilient societies.
The history of SPS-DRM is more than a chronology of organizational milestones. It reflects the progressive construction of an environment in which research, education, publishing, professional expertise, field experience and public engagement reinforce one another.
As disaster risks become more interconnected, systemic and complex, SPS-DRM continues to develop new forms of knowledge exchange, professional education, international cooperation and evidence-based practice for the benefit of individuals, institutions and communities.
Explore SPS-DRM
Discover more about our institutional development, training, research, publications and educational activities.