Funded by the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance
Duration: 01.02.2018 – 31.01.2020

The project is being realised in cooperation with the Department of Intercultural Communication (Prof. Dr. Stefan Strohschneider) at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and examines warnings for emergency and disaster scenarios in the civilian population in a multi-step process:

1. Identification and analysis of officially prepared warnings for various scenarios and evaluation of comprehensibility and feasibility
2. Recording the information needs of the civilian population (with a focus on older people and people with a migration background) in relation to various scenarios
3. Optimisation and experimental testing of the comprehensibility and credibility of the identified warnings
4. Triangulation of the research results and derivation of framework recommendations for authorities and civil protection actors

Sub-project: Effectiveness of radicalising cues in the joint project Radicalisation in the digital age (RadigZ) - risks, processes and strategies of prevention

funded by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research
Duration: 01.02.2017

The instrumentalisation of the internet and new media by radical and terrorist groups poses a major challenge. The digital dissemination of relevant propaganda allows dangerous ideas to reach a broad public unfiltered. It is largely unclear whether, if so, how and in which individuals these messages have an effect on reinforcing extremist attitudes and extremely violent behaviour.

The research funding programme advertised by the BMBF addresses precisely this need for clarification by promoting legally compliant investigations into the actual impact of this propaganda and the question of how it can be effectively countered.

Sub-project 5 deals with the actual impact aspects of propaganda on the addressees from the perspective of communication psychology and action theory. By using quantitative and experimental methods, sub-project 5 will be able to make statements about which messages influence the attitudes and behaviour of which individuals and possibly promote violent extremist thought and action.

On the basis of the identified cues with radicalisation potential and the measured relevance of these stimulus components of the propaganda material for the behavioural goals of the individual, behavioural and situational prevention measures can be systematically and scientifically derived, implemented and evaluated for specific target groups (indicated).

The aim of sub-project 5 is to clarify the question of which potentially radicalising cues have what effect on which risk groups.

In line with advertising effectiveness research, effectiveness is operationalised as awareness of the message content/message, subjectively assessed or actual behavioural relevance (positive associations with extremist groups, index of violent behaviour) and attractiveness of the attitude object before and after the attitude measurement.

Online and mobile communication in emergency situations

funded by the European Commission - Grant Agreement No. 606796
Duration 09/2014 - 02/2017

The SOTERIA project aims to research the potential of using social media in emergency situations and to develop recommendations and a toolbox as a result. To this end, the dynamics between emergency personnel and the population during emergency situations will be analysed.

This should:

• lead to a better understanding of the influence of social media in emergency management,
• contribute to the utilisation of all communication channels in emergency situations by emergency personnel and the population,
• lead to the use of mobile platforms and their possibilities for localisation and effective communication with the population and
• lead to effective utilisation of the information provided by the population for the emergency personnel.

Lower the impact of aggravating factors in crisis situations thanks to adaptative foresight and decision-support tools

funded by the  EU FP7 - Grant Agreement No. 606742
Duration 03/2014 - 02/2017

In view of increasingly interconnected societies, in which networks of various kinds are linked to each other, as well as an ever-increasing population density, a better understanding of the effects of cascading events (i.e. chains of events triggered by a specific event between interdependent systems, ‘domino effects’) in the context of crisis and disaster situations is necessary. The effects of such cascading events can include human, physical and economic damage.

The aim of the Snowball project, funded by the European Commission, is to increase the preparedness and response capacities of decision-makers, emergency planners and first responders for large-scale crisis situations with cascading effects in order to reduce their impact. To this end, a method for better assessment and prediction of cascading effects is to be developed in cooperation with technology providers, practice partners (e.g. fire brigade, Red Cross) and scientific partners and, on this basis, a special platform for crisis managers for decision support in cascading crisis situations. This system should

1. enable the simulation and better prediction of cascading effects in crises and disasters,
2. include the reactions and behaviour of the population in the simulation,
3. provide support to public decision-makers and authorities in the face of cascading crises and disasters, and
4. be tested for efficiency in various demonstrations.

The Chair of Health and Prevention at the University of Greifswald is the project partner responsible for analysing the human factor in the context of cascading crises and disasters. Among other things, the contribution of human behaviour (i.e. general population, emergency services, decision-makers, operators of critical infrastructures) to the triggering conditions of cascading effects and, on the other hand, the impact of cascading effects on the reactions and behaviour of the population will be investigated. For example, the behaviour of the population, such as blocking escape routes, overloading the electricity or communication network or refusing to follow instructions from emergency services, can directly or indirectly exacerbate the effects of a crisis situation. On the other hand, prosocial behaviour appropriate to the situation can also defuse such situations.

Professional integration of volunteers in crisis management and disaster control

funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research - FKZ 13 N 12196
Duration: 10/2012 - 11/2015

How can people be motivated to volunteer in the field of crisis management and disaster control? The University of Greifswald is developing concepts for the ‘Professional Integration of Volunteers in Crisis Management and Civil Protection (INKA)’ in cooperation with other research institutions and authorities/organisations with security tasks.

The research focus of the University of Greifswald relates to motivational aspects of voluntary commitment. The focus is on analysing personal motivations for taking up and maintaining voluntary work in crisis management and disaster control, including the factors that influence these motivations.

The INKA research project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the ‘Research for Civil Security’ programme.

Rescue, aid and culture I

funded by the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance - FKZ BBK-III.1-413-10-00-374
Duration: 09/2010 - 02/2013

The increasing ethnic and cultural diversity of Germany's population also poses a challenge for German civil defence management and emergency services. The overarching aim of this project is to support them in coping with this task. It focusses on the areas of activity ‘firefighting, technical rescue and hazard prevention’, ‘rescue services and emergency medicine’ and ‘psychosocial emergency care’.

The sub-goals are as follows

• Creating a reliable database to determine the need for intercultural competence in the three areas of activity,
• Developing theoretically and empirically based training measures for intercultural competence development in these areas,
• Evaluation of the educational measures developed.
• The project plan consists of three main parts, which are derived from the stated objectives.

 
The data basis for determining the need for intercultural competence is to be created through literature research and our own surveys. To this end, it is planned to survey 15 experts from the three areas of civil protection using semi-structured interviews. At the same time, qualitative (6 focus groups planned) and quantitative (150 questionnaires planned) data on the satisfaction of people affected by emergencies with and without a migration background will be collected. These affected persons will be recruited through contacts with migrant associations and emergency departments in hospitals as well as through public appeals. As the surveys can be realised more efficiently in a multi-ethnic/cultural metropolitan region, they are to take place in the Hamburg area.
Building on the results of the first part of the project, intercultural training measures will then be developed specifically for the three areas of activity and the respective hierarchical levels (management and operational staff).
These training programmes are to be carried out (two are planned for each area of activity and hierarchical level, i.e. 12 in total) and evaluated by means of a written survey of the participants. Based on the results of this evaluation, the training measures can be revised if necessary and then handed over to the client of the project in manualised form for further use.

  All plans, implementation steps and results are presented to and agreed with the client and a project-accompanying working group three times during the project period. Two interim reports and a final report are submitted for this purpose.

Rescue, aid and culture  II

funded by the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance  - FKZ BBK-III.1-413-10-00-396
Duration: 05/2013 - 01/2016

This research project is a continuation and extension of the project ‘Rescue, Aid & Culture (1)’, which was also carried out from October 2010 to February 2013 on behalf of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance. 

The current project focusses on further questions in the context of socio-cultural diversity and civil protection. The objectives and content of the work areas (Ab) are briefly described below:

Ab1 - Continuation of the evaluation and promotion of the implementation of Rescue, Relief & Culture 1

• Continuation of the evaluation of the intercultural training concept
  By surveying participants in the pilot events of the training concept, the long-term effects of participation are examined and taken into account when finalising the concept.
• Creating, implementing and evaluating a qualification concept for multipliers of the intercultural training concept
  The concept is to be implemented by multipliers in the field of civil protection. A concept for this ‘train-the-trainer’ training will be developed and implemented in cooperation with the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance.

From 2 - Knowledge relevant to civil protection and disaster management in the population - status and approaches to communication
 

• Survey of knowledge relevant to civil protection and disaster control among the German population
  An assessment is made of the level of knowledge of the German population relevant to action with regard to the structure and function of disaster and civil protection. The corresponding needs analysis of knowledge regarding disaster and civil protection in Germany can serve as a basis for preventive and resilience-promoting measures, e.g. in the creation of target group-specific information and training campaigns.
• Creation of a language- and culture-sensitive information measure ‘Population and disaster protection in Germany’ (working title), in which core elements of knowledge relevant to population and disaster protection are summarised
  On the basis of literature and material research and two needs analyses (target groups: Migrants and civil protection experts), an intervention is developed, implemented and evaluated.
• Creation, implementation and evaluation of a qualification concept for suitable multipliers of the target group-specific information measures
  Taking into account the feasibility of the information measure created in section 2.2 as well as sustainability and a high degree of dissemination, an implementation and qualification concept for suitable multipliers is developed, carried out and evaluated.

The central aim of this and the previous work is to provide a scientific basis, tried and tested concepts and recommendations for dealing with socio-cultural and ethnic diversity in civil protection, which can be used at the individual, operational and strategic levels. This use should help to ensure the best possible care for all members and groups of the population and promote important processes - such as the intercultural opening of German civil protection systems.

To this end, we once again need the support of experts from the civil protection sector as well as fellow citizens from different population groups.

All plans, implementation steps and results of the project will be presented to and agreed with the client and a project-accompanying working group three times during the project period. Two interim reports and a final report are also submitted to the client.

iSAR+ Online and Mobile Communications for Crisis Response and Search and Rescue

funded by the EU (FP7) - Grant Agreement nº 312850 
Duration: 01/2013 – 06/2015
 

The iSAR+ Project aims to research and develop guidelines and an associated platform that, in emergencies or crises, enables citizens using new mobile and online technologies to actively participate in the response effort, through the bi-directional provision, dissemination, sharing and retrieval of information essential for critical Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) intervention, in search and rescue (SAR), law enforcement and medical assistance.

Empowered by the new communication media, such as mobile phones with cameras, text messaging and internet-based applications connecting to social media platforms, citizens are the in situ first sensors, but their added-value involvement in crisis response efforts is often disregarded by PPDRs, as they struggle to timely develop an adequate situational awareness. iSAR+ innovates the approach to the dynamics between citizens and PPDRs in crises, allowing:

• The leverage of PPDRs’ levels of shared awareness and performance, benefiting from citizens’ published information
• The exploitation of mobile platforms’ ubiquity to search, locate and effectively communicate with citizens
• The redirection of citizens’ large energy and information flow into PPDRs platforms.

CATO: CBRN crisis management: Architecture, Technologies and Operational Procedures

funded by the  EU (FP7) - Grant Agreement No. 261693
Duration: 01/2012 - 12/2014

Objectives

CATO is a European Commission-funded project that aims to develop an understandable, publicly accessible decision support system for dealing with crisis situations caused by terrorist attacks involving CBRN (chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear) materials or unconventional weapons. CATO will cover the entire cycle from detection to response and recovery from CBRN disasters by supporting the many stakeholders from decision makers to responders in a seamless transition from the planning to the monitoring and finally the operational response phase.

The Chair of Health and Prevention at the Ernst Moritz Arndt University is the project partner responsible for the area of crisis communication. As part of this study, subjective risk assessments, behavioural intentions and communication behaviour of the population are to be recorded with the help of online questionnaires and interviews. The aim is to obtain information on the perception of crisis situations. The focus is particularly on crises in connection with unconventional terror. These include attacks with chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear materials (CBRN). The CATO sub-study to be conducted focusses on attitudes towards and perceptions of CBRN crises by the population. As part of the study, participants are presented with various hypothetical scenarios in written form and their assessments of individual behaviour and experiences are recorded. (Online) questionnaires will be used, each of which will cover general content and specific crises (C,B,RN, + conventional terror). The surveys are conducted anonymously and the participants are fully informed in advance about the purpose of the study and how their data will be used. The findings of the study contribute to the development of recommendations for crisis communication in the event of unconventional terrorist attacks.

Participating institutes

The entire CATO consortium consists of 25 partners; the consortium coordinator is the Israeli company NESS. Work package 1.6 of the CATO project deals with communication in crisis situations. The Chair of Prevention and Health is working on this aspect of CATO together with the University of Jyväskylä in Finland and Inconnect, a Dutch company specialising in crisis communication.

Behaviour, Security and Culture: Human behaviour in crisis situations: A cross cultural investigation in order to tailor security-related communication.

funded by the EU(FP7) - Grant agreement no.: 218324
Duration: 01/2009 - 12/2011

The study is funded by the European Community under the 7th Research Framework Programme (Security). The study is coordinated by the EMAU Greifswald and carried out in co-operation with seven other institutes within Europe.

The aim of BeSeCu (Behaviour, Security and Culture) is to investigate intercultural differences in people's behaviour during emergencies and crisis situations.

As part of the BeSeCu study, people who have experienced crisis situations are interviewed. In the first, qualitative part of the survey, interviews and focus groups will be conducted. Based on these results, a quantitative, standardised survey will be conducted later using a questionnaire. Interviews and focus groups relate to different types of crisis situations and accidents, such as floods, house fires and terrorist attacks.

Exploratory interviews were conducted with experts in crisis situations, such as fire officers, emergency psychologists and the medical rescue service, to create the interview guidelines. Focus group participants are interviewed together in groups of 4-6 people, depending on the crisis situation, using the guidelines. They are asked about their experiences, behaviour, perceptions and emotions during the event. The group interviews are transcribed and summarised according to the most frequent topics. Based on these results, questionnaires will be developed specifically for people who have experienced such an event and for professionals.

• Stumpf, K., Knuth, D., Kietzmann, D., & Schmidt, S. (2017) Adoption of Fire Prevention Measures - Predictors in a Representative German Sample. Safety Science, 94, 94-102. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2016.12.023  Link
• Schönefeld, S., Knuth, D., Lemanski, S., Hahm, S. & Schmidt, S. (2016) Kaskadierende Effekte in Katastrophen: Die Rolle des menschlichen Verhaltens. [Cascading effects in disasters: The role of human behavior.] Im Einsatz. 4/2016
• Hahm, S., Knuth, D., Kehl, D., & Schmidt, S. (2016). The impact of different natures of experience on risk perception regarding fire-related incidents: A comparison of firefighters and emergency survivors using cross-national data. Safety Science, 82, 274-282. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2015.09.032  Link
• Szymczak, H., Kücükbalaban, P., Lemanski, S., Knuth, D., & Schmidt, S. (2016). Trusting Facebook in Crisis Situations: The Role of General Use and General Trust Toward Facebook. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 19(1):23-27. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2015.0450. Link
• Knuth, D., Kietzmann, D., Schmidt, S. (2016). Notfallvorsorge und Motivation zur Vorsorge in der Bevölkerung Deutschlands. Crisis Prevention, 1/2016.
• Hillert, R., Kücükbalaban, P., Lemanski, S., Knuth, D., & Schmidt, S. (2015). Soziale Medien in Krisen- und Katastrophensituationen: Ein Vergleich zwischen Deutschland, Norwegen und Frankreich [Social Media in Crisis and Disaster Situations: A Comparison between Germany, Norway, and France]. Bevölkerungsschutz, 4/2015, 35-39.
• Knuth, D., Kietzmann, D., Hegele, K. & Schmidt, S. (2015). Notfallvorsorge und Motivation zur Vorsorge in der Bevölkerung Deutschlands. Ergebnisse einer repräsentativen Telefonbefragung. [Emergency preparedness and motivation for preparedness in Germany. Results of a representative telephone survey.] Bevölkerungsschutz, 3/2015.
• Kietzmann, D., Knuth, D., Hegele, K. & Schmidt, S. (2015). Notfallwissen in der Bevölkerung Deutschlands. Ergebnisse einer repräsentativen Telefonbefragung. [Emergency knowledge in Germany. Results of a representative telephone survey.] Bevölkerungsschutz, 3/2015.
• Kietzmann, D., Hannig, C., & Schmidt, S. (2015). Migrants' and professionals' views on culturally sensitive pre-hospital emergency care. Social Science & Medicine 138(EFirst), 234-240. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.06.022   Link
• Knuth, D., Kehl, D., Hulse, L., Spangenberg, L., Brähler, E., & Schmidt, S. (2015). Risk perception and emergency experience: Comparing a representative German sample with German emergency survivors. Journal of Risk Research, 18(5), 581-601. doi: 10.1080/13669877.2014.910685   Link
• Kietzmann, D., Kallies, K., Hannig, C., Kehl, D., Knuth, D., & Schmidt, S. (2015). Ressourcen und Barrieren bei der Gewinnung von Personen mit Migrationshintergrund im Bereich der präklinischen Notfallforschung. [Access und Barriers to Recruiting Persons with Migration Background in the Field of Prehospital Emergency Care Research]. Gesundheitswesen (EFirst). doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1396889   Link
• Kietzmann, D., Wiehn, S., Kehl, D., Knuth, D., & Schmidt, S. (2015). Migration background and overall satisfaction with pre-hospital emergency care. Applied Nursing Research (EFirst). doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2015.05.009   Link
• Kehl, D., Knuth, D., Hulse, L., & Schmidt, S. (2015). Predictors of postevent distress and growth among firefighters after work-related emergencies - A cross-national study. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 7(3), 203-211. doi: 10.1037/a0037954   Link
• Feuerherd, M., Knuth, D., Muehlan, H., & Schmidt, S. (2014). Differential item functioning (DIF) analyses of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R): Results from a large European study on people with disaster experiences. Traumatology, 20(4), 313-320. doi: 10.1037/h0099858   Link
• Kietzmann, D., Hannig, C., Kehl, D., & Schmidt, S. (2014). Der Kulturbegriff aus Sicht von Betroffenen mit Migrationshintergrund und Bevölkerungsschutzexperten im Kontext der Notfallversorgung. [The concept of culture from the perspective of migrant persons and civil defense experts in the context of emergency care]. Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, Medizinische Psychologie, 64(8), 309-314. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1361157   Link
• Knuth, D., Kehl, D., Galea, E., Hulse, L., Sans, J., Valles, L., . . . Schmidt, S. (2014). BeSeCu-S - a self-report instrument for emergency survivors. Journal of Risk Research, 17(5), 601-620. doi: Doi 10.1080/13669877.2013.815649   Link
• Knuth, D., Kehl, D., Hulse, L., & Schmidt, S. (2014). Risk Perception, Experience and Objective Risk: A Cross-National Study with European Emergency Survivors. Risk Analysis, 34(7), 1286-1298. doi: 10.1111/risa.12157   Link
• Kehl, D., Knuth, D., Galea, E., Hulse, L., Sans, J., Valles, L., . . . Schmidt, S. (2014). Advancing disaster relief: Development of a self-report questionnaire for firefighters.International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, 3(3), 167-183. doi: 10.1037/a0036423   Link
• Kehl, D., Knuth, D., Holubová, M., Hulse, L., & Schmidt, S. (2014). Relationships between firefighters’ postevent distress and growth at different times after distressing incidents. Traumatology, 20(4), 253-261. doi: 10.1037/h0099832   Link
• Kehl, D., Knuth, D., Hulse, L., & Schmidt, S. (2014). Posttraumatic Reactions among Firefighters after Critical Incidents: Cross-National Data. Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma, 23(8), 842-853. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2014.938143  Link
• Knuth, D., Kehl, D., Hulse, L., & Schmidt, S. (2013). Perievent distress during fires - The impact of perceived emergency knowledge. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 34, 10-17. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2012.12.002   Link
• Prati, G., Pietrantoni, L., Saccinto, E., Kehl, D., Knuth, D., & Schmidt, S. (2013). Risk perception of different emergency situations in a sample of European firefighters.Work: Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation, 45(1), 87-96. doi: 10.3233/WOR-121543   Link

• Kuecuekbalaban, P., Rhode, D. & Schmidt, S. (2015). PPDRs View on New Communication Technologies and Social Media in Crises. In In S. Schmidt & D. Knuth (Eds.). iSAR+ New Media in Crisis Situations - Findings and Recommendations from the Human and Organisational Perspective (24-39). Lengerich: Papst Science Publishers.
• Kietzmann D. & Brandt, S. (2015) An example of the use of social networks for disaster follow-up. In In S. Schmidt & D. Knuth (Eds.). iSAR+ New Media in Crisis Situations - Findings and Recommendations from the Human and Organisational Perspective (77-92). Lengerich: Papst Science Publishers.
• Kuecuekbalaban, P., Knuth, D.,Szymczak, H., Lemanski, S., Lück, A. & Schmidt, S. (2015) Citizens View on New Media in Crisis. In In S. Schmidt & D. Knuth (Eds.). iSAR+ New Media in Crisis Situations - Findings and Recommendations from the Human and Organisational Perspective (40-76). Lengerich: Papst Science Publishers.
• Knuth, D. & Rhode, D. CBRN terorism – societal perspectives and attitudes. In S. Schmidt & M. Vos (Eds.). Behavior and communication in CBRN Crisis. Findings and recommendations in case of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks on society (4-59). Lengerich: Papst Science Publishers.
• Rhode, D., Knuth, D., Van het Erve, A. & Vergeer, F. Communication Guidelines. In S. Schmidt & M. Vos (Eds.). Behavior and communication in CBRN Crisis. Findings and recommendations in case of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks on society (61-105). Lengerich: Papst Science Publishers.
• Hannig, C. (2014). Interkulturelle Aspekte. In H. A. Adams, C. Krettek, C. Lange & C. Unger (Eds.), Patientenversorgung im Großschadens- und Katastrophenfall: Medizinische, organisatorische und technische Herausforderungen jenseits der Individualmedizin (pp. 661-669). Köln: Deutscher Ärzte-Verlag.
• Knuth, D., & BeSeCu-group. (2013). Results of the BeSeCu-S field study. In S. Schmidt & E. Galea (Eds.), Behaviour - Security - Culture (BeSeCu): Human behaviour in emergencies and disasters: A cross-cultural investigation (pp. 88-100). Lengerich: Pabst Science Publishers.
• Knuth, D., & Kehl, D. (2013). Situational characteristics of survivor data. In S. Schmidt & E. Galea (Eds.), Behaviour - Security - Culture (BeSeCu): Human behaviour in emergencies and disasters: A cross-cultural investigation (pp. 117-124). Lengerich: Pabst Science Publishers.
• Knuth, D., Kehl, D., & Schmidt, S. (2013). Development of field study instruments BeSeCu-S and BeSeCu-FR. In S. Schmidt & E. Galea (Eds.), Behaviour - Security - Culture (BeSeCu): Human behaviour in emergencies and disasters: A cross-cultural investigation (pp. 60-69). Lengerich: Pabst Science Publishers.
• Knuth, D., Kehl, D., Stegemann, K., & Schmidt, S. (2013). Recruitment strategies across all centers. In S. Schmidt & E. Galea (Eds.), Behaviour - Security - Culture (BeSeCu): Human behaviour in emergencies and disasters: A cross-cultural investigation (pp. 72-87). Lengerich: Pabst Science Publishers.
• Schmidt, S., Knuth, D., & Hannig, C. (2013). Die Psychologie im Bevölkerungsschutz – Grundlagen und aktuelle Forschungsthemen. In C. Unger, T. Mitschke & D. Freudenberg (Eds.), Krisenmanagement - Notfallplanung - Bevölkerungsschutz. Festschrift anlässlich 60 Jahre Ausbildung im Bevölkerungsschutz, dargebracht von Partnern, Freunden und Mitarbeitern des Bundesamtes für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (pp. 341-352). Berlin: Duncker & Humblot.
• Schmidt, S., Knuth, D., & Kehl, D. (2013). RESULTATS DE L’ESTUDI BESECU A ALEMANYA. In L. Vallès Port, C. Cervera, B. (Projecte) & C. Gandia (Eds.), El Comportament humà en situacions de crisi: resultats d'un estudi europeo (pp. 77-86). Addena, Barcelona: Institut de Seguretat Pública de Catalunya.
• Schmidt, S., Knuth, D., & Kehl, D. (2011). Human behavior in crisis situations: A field study of fire fighters and survivors across different types of disaster situations. In W. Jaskolowki & P. Kepka (Eds.), Emergency evacuation of people from buildings (pp. 309-316). Warszawa: BEL Studio.

• Knuth, D. (2015, November) Fire safety knowledge and preparedness in the German population. Oral presentation at the conference: Fire Related Research and Developments (RE15), Moreton-in-Marsh, United Kingdom.
• Knuth, D., Kietzmann, D. & Schmidt, S. (2015, November) Notfallvorsorge und Notfallwissen in der Bevölkerung Deutschlands - Eine repräsentative Befragung [Emergency preparedness and emergency knowledge in the German population – a representative study.] Poster presentation:  at the Forum Katastrophenvorsorge: „Partizipation von allen!?“, Berlin, Germany.
• Knuth, D., Kuecuekbalaban, P., Hahm, S., Lemanski, S., & Schmidt, S. (2015, June 15th to 17th). Flood experience in Germany – the impact on risk perception, concern, and social media usefulness. Presentation at the 24th SRA-Europe Conference, Maastricht, Netherlands.
• Knuth, D., Kietzmann, D. & Schmidt, S. (2015, June 15th to 17th). Risk perception, experience and gender – An investigation of the accuracy hypothesis with respect to fires. Presentation at the 24th SRA-Europe Conference, Maastricht, Netherlands.
• Schönefeld, M. (2015, June). Disaster Risk Reduction and the Inclusion of Migrants.Workshop leader and keynote speech at the Regional Consultation for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Initiative “Migrants in Countries in Crisis“ (International Organisation for Migration), Brussels, Belgium.
• Hannig, C., & Schönefeld, M. (2015, June). Cultural competence and civil protection.Oral presentation at the Rescue forum of the INTERSCHUTZ fair, Hannover, Germany.
• Kuecuekbalaban, P., Hahm, S., Knuth, D., & Schmidt, S. (2015, April 21st to 24th).Comparison of the use of traditional and social media by public protection and disaster relief representatives in four European countries. Prensentation at the Presentation, 19th World Congress of Disaster and Emergency Medicine, Cape Town, South Africa.
• Knuth, D. (2015, April). The accuracy hypothesis of risk perception – the impact of experience and gender. Oral presentation at the at the Mid-term conference of RN22, Sociology of Risk and Uncertainty: Risk, Uncertainty and Transition, Stuttgart, Germany.
• Szymczak, H. (2015, March 27th to 29th). iSAR+ and SOTERIA projects Prensentation at the the Akademie für Krisenmanagement, Notfallplanung und Zivilschutz (AKNZ) of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.
• Schönefeld, M. (2015, March). E-Learning assisted cultural competence training for civil protection practitioners. Oral presentation at the 5th symposium of the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) “Help for helpers”. Akademie für Krisenmanagement, Notfallplanung und Zivilschutz (AKNZ) of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.
• Kietzmann, D., Bischoff, M., Kehl, D., & Schmidt, S. (2014, November 4th to 5th).Volunteering in the field of emergency management. Presentation at the German committee for disaster reduction, Leipzig, Germany.
• Schönefeld, M. (2014, November). Intercultural challenges for emergency medical services. Oral presentation at the 15th Berlin Symposium for Emergency Medical Services, Charité Hospital Berlin, Germany.
• Kietzmann, D., Kehl, D., Wiehn, S., Hannig, C., & Schmidt, S. (2014, September 17th to 20th ). The impact of language barriers on patient satisfaction with pre-hospital emergency care. Presentation at the German association for medical psychology and German association for medical sociology, Greifswald, Germany.
• Schönefeld, M. (2014, September). Fit for Diversity? Evaluation results: Cultural competence training for non-medical emergency personnel. Oral presentation at the annual conference of the German Society for Medical Psychology (DGMP), Greifswald, Germany.
• Hannig, C. (2014, June). Civil protection in European multicultural societies – starting points for practice and development. Keynote speech at the workshop conference Civil protection in diverse societies: migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the context of major risks prevention and management, European Council, Strasbourg, France.
• Schönefeld, M. (2014, June). Rescue – Aid – Culture: A cultural competence training for non-medical emergency personnel. Oral presentation at the Council of Europe (CoE), Strasbourg, France; Meeting of the CoE Working Groups “Intercultural Cities” and “Major Hazards Agreement EUROPA, Strasbourg, France.
• Hahm, S., Kuecuekbalaban, P., Knuth, D., & Schmidt, S. (2014, April 9th). Usage of social media in crisis communication. First results of an online survey in crisis management and civil defence. Presentation at the INKA consortium meeting and workshop, Berlin, Germany.
• Hannig, C. (2014, April). The need and the enhancement of cultural competence in civil protection, results from a German research project. Oral presentation at the 19th World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine, Cape Town, South Africa.
• Hannig, C. (2014, February). Intercultural competence in civil protection, basics and specific aspects for psychosocial emergency care. Keynote speech at the festive event 15 years pastoral emergency care in Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
• Kietzmann, D., Hannig, C., & Schmidt, S. (2013, November 27th to 30th). Cultural competence in the context of pre-hospital emergency care – relevant approaches.Presentation at the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Berlin, Germany.
• Knuth, D. (2012, October 3rd to 5th). Risk perception of European emergency survivors. Poster presentation at the 7th DFG-NSF Research Conference Reckoning with the Risk of Catastrophe, Washington DC, USA.
• Kietzmann, D., Hannig, C., & Schmidt, S. (2012, September 20th to 22th ).Psychosocial needs of persons affected by emergencies and their relatives. Oral presentation at the German association for medical psychology, Heidelberg, Germany.
• Hannig, C. (2012, May). The heuristical model ‘Intercultural stress in emergency response’ as an element of an intercultural training concept for managerial and operational staff in civil Protection. Oral presentation at the conference Interculturality as an instrument for service and leadership, National Defence Academy, Vienna, Austria.