Quebec has been caught off guard, these past years, during major floods, despite years of active research and efforts in the field of flood protection. Research has remained restricted to disciplinary silos, and as a result, failed to provide integrated solutions to the complex issue of flooding.

The RIISQ network, in Quebec, funded by the Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQ), was therefore created. It’s a platform of exchange and integration that brings together all government stakeholders, socio-economic partners, as well as researchers from the social, scientific, technological, medical, economic and political fields, to improve Quebec’s ability to get prepared for and protect against floods.

Mission

Use new scientific knowledge drawn from civil society and universities to develop concrete and sustainable solutions. Used by competent authorities, these tools will reduce the risks of flooding and its consequences and facilitate the resilience of organizations, communities and vulnerable populations.

Vision

  • Become Quebec’s scientific and societal reference for knowledge development and mobilization, as well as next generation training and the production of tools and methods for evaluation and intervention in the face of floods and flood-related hazards.
  • Stand out in the field of strategic research in order to reduce the gap between science and disinformation and thus promote the development of a society that is more resilient to floods and their consequences.

Objectives

The primary objective of RIISQ is to contribute to the development of advanced transdisciplinary research on flood risk management and its consequences in the context of climate change. The ultimate goal is to provide answers and solutions to the needs of communities and individuals exposed to floods.

Specific objectives :
  • To combine field expertise and research on flood risks, including lessons learned (post mortem);
  • To improve the understanding of the risks of floods and their consequences (domino effect) on the populations;
  • To improve our understanding of the vulnerability, adaptation, and resilience of individuals, organizations and communities to floods;
  • To contribute to renewed and improved flood risk governance and management;
  • To contribute to better awareness, prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from flood events for stakeholders;
  • To synthesize existing knowledge and generate useful knowledge to provide decision-makers and populations with evidence-based and sustainable solutions;
  • To train the next generation and highly qualified personnel in flood risk management.

Values

  • Break down barriers between disciplinary sectors to promote the most complete and qualitative management possible of the flood-related risks.
  • Build relationships of trust between members of the academic community, field workers, ministries, socio-economic partners and the entire population.
  • Promote citizen participation and the exchange of knowledge and know-how from sectors accustomed to working separately, in order to improve the preventive aspects of interventions.
  • Include the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in scientific research, in accordance with the approach advocated by the FRQ and federal funding agencies, through responsible conduct in research, namely: honesty, reliability, rigour, objectivity, impartiality, independence, justice (particularly in recognizing the contribution of others), trust, responsibility, benevolence, openness and transparency.
  • Work ahead of flood risks and disasters, and not only when they occur.
  • Emphasize the human factor in managing a risk (before, but also during and after the disaster).
  • Provide better care to the populations most vulnerable and exposed to the risks of flooding and disasters, in a context of climate change.
  • Promote innovation and excellence in research with the greatest respect for the rules of ethics and integrity.
  • Focus on probity and a spirit of openness.

Scientific and Strategic Orientations

The main lines of the RIISQ are presented in this short summarized document.