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Lilia Yumagulova

 

  • 2008 Trudeau Scholar

    lilia.yumagulova@trudeaufoundation.net

    Current Research

    Ph.D. Planning, University of British Columbia

    Resilient by design: The Role of Institutional Adaptation to Environmental Risk in Cities

    Profile

    Lilia Yumagulova was born and raised in the Soviet Union, in a low-income area of a large urban centre prone to recurring floods. Witnessing these regular 'disasters' affect her community influenced her choice of profession. After earning an Engineering Degree in Emergency Protection in Russia, she realized that in order to address vulnerability reduction effectively, the level of understanding and implementation must extend beyond the borders of the nation state - just as many disasters transcend international boundaries.

  • Since then Lilia has studied and worked in the UK (University College London; King's College London), Canada (Fellowships at the MUNK Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto and York University) and Sweden (Fellowship at the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Lund University) as well as in Italy and Germany. Her research has been supported by the Chevening Scholarship, British Council, Visby Scholarship, Swedish Institute, as well as CIDA, American Council grants, NATO grants and University awards.

    Lilia's interdisciplinary academic path combines engineering, social science, public policy, international relations and planning. As an undergraduate, Lilia worked at the Bashkortostan State Fire Department in Russia where she developed a regional fire mapping and monitoring system. Her innovative dissertation combining engineering, statistical analysis and social science methods earned Lily a Distinction and gave her the thrill of seeing her research work implemented into practice. Since then her research has been focused on practical applications - through her work with disaster affected communities and government agencies and NGOs in Russia, the UK and Canada. During her studies in  London (MSc in Risk Analysis with Distinction), Lilia wrote a policy basis for the Environment Agency, UK on the role of social capital during recovery from floods; while her Dissertation focused on bridging the gap between local authorities and marginalized communities in provincial Russia. Lilia has worked in media, government agencies and NGOs. In her academic work she emphasizes the value of bringing together academia, practitioners, policy makers, planners and media for reducing environmental risk in cities. Outside of academics, Lilia is Secretary for the Canadian Risks and Hazards Network, a Member of the International Federation of Journalists, and is an international outreach coordinator for organizations working with orphanages, the indigenous population of Russia, and independent documentary filmmakers.

    Trudeau Foundation Themes

    Human Rights and Social Justice » 
    Responsible Citizenship » 
    People and their Natural Environment » 

  • Current Residence

    Vancouver, British Columbia

    Languages

    Russian, Tatar, English and French (working knowledge)

    Degrees

    • Masters of Science, Risk Analysis, King's College London, United Kingdom
    • Masters of Engineering in Emergency Management, UfA State Aviation Technical University, Russia

    Current Research

    Resilient by design: The Role of Institutional Adaptation to Environmental Risk in Cities

    Currently, cities are facing unpredictable environmental change and previous models designed around a linear understanding of change, as incremental and predictable, might not be flexible enough to withstand this challenge. Therefore, a new, fundamentally non-linear, way of dealing with change in cities is required. How can we plan for and manage resilient urban environments?

    Lilia is interested in cities as complex adaptive systems, in natural disasters and in the ability of institutions to adapt to change. Her research explores potential applications of the 'resilience' metaphor to the urban context. Her particular focus is on the role of institutions in reducing/increasing risk and in developing an understanding of hazard mitigation practices as a cross-scale dynamic process between the natural and the build environment. Metro Vancouver is her laboratory in search for urban resilience.

    Past Research

    • The 'hourglass' of urban flood risk management institutions: bridging the gap between local authorities and marginalized communities in the disaster risk reduction initiatives in provincial Russia
    • The role of social capital during the post-flooding recovery process in the communities across Britain: an overview for the Environment Agency, UK.
    • Educating for disasters: the role of public and professional education. 'Best practice' framework based on the international experience.
    • The regional fire mapping and monitoring system (State Fire Department of Republic of Bashkortostan)

    Awards

    • NATO: grant for the Advanced Training Workshop on 'Spatial Planning as a strategy for mitigation and adaptation to natural disasters'.
    • Visby scholarship, Swedish Institute for the Fellowship at Lund University, Sweden
    • Chevening Scholarship, British council for the Masters of Science at King's College London
    • CIDA Canadian Risk and Hazard Network Symposium fellowship grant
    • Distinction, Masters of Science King's College London
    • King's College Travel Award
    • Distinction, Ufa State Aviation Technical University
    • 'The best graduate of 2004' at Ufa State Aviation Technical University, Ufa, Russia

    Social Engagement

    • Consultant/Researcher "International centre of indigenous people's culture and ecological children's education" the Ural's region, Russia.
    • Project coordinator "Facial rehabilitation booklet" (UK-Russia-Sweden)
    • Member of a steering committee, United Nations Society, London, UK
    • Assistant Coordinator, "Internet Access and Training Program - Project Harmony" Russia

    Work Experience

    • International news editor, "Personal opinion" newspaper, Russia
    • Programme director "English Club" (Russia/Ukraine) youth and children development centre
    • Consultant, Bashproteck-Pozhtest - Engineering certification association, Russia.
    • Assistant project coordinator, Nonprofit Ecological Association Tengry, Russia

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