On 4-5 November 2025, the CENTAUR Horizon Europe project took part in the EU Science for Preparedness Conference, held in Turin, Italy. Organised by the Joint Research Centre’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) and the Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre (DRMKC), the event gathered experts, policymakers, and researchers to exchange knowledge and strengthen Europe’s resilience to disasters.
CENTAUR representatives presenting our research poster at the EU Science for Preparedness Conference. From left to right Jessica Jeune (ECMWF), Matilde Oliveti (Ithaca), Emanuele Cassin (Ithaca).
CENTAUR Poster Presentation
CENTAUR was represented at the poster presentation, introducing the project’s two main research areas: urban flood early warning and monitoring products, and water and food security and their links to conflict and displacement. The poster, titled “Enhance Response to Climate Change Challenges: CENTAUR’s Integrated Approach to Climate Security and Early Warning Systems”, showcased how this Horizon Europe project combines scientific innovation with practical tools to strengthen resilience against climate-related crises.
In the context of urban flooding, CENTAUR seeks to improve the CEMS product portfolio related to urban flood detection by identifying key indicators and tracking their performance using Earth Observation data and downscaled city-level forecasts. This work supports the development of an early warning system which issues alerts when predefined crisis thresholds are met.
For water and food security, the project aims to advance the Copernicus Security Service on Support to EU External and Security Actions (SESA) portfolio with new vulnerability and fragility indexes, improving early warning capabilities to monitor drivers of social unrest, displacement, and conflict linked to food and water insecurity.
Together, these two strands of research demonstrate CENTAUR’s integrated approach to climate security, bridging scientific research and operational preparedness.
Engaging discussions at the conference
Throughout the event, many participants visited the poster session to gain further insight on CENTAUR. Our representatives engaged with attendees to present the project’s key themes and address inquiries regarding CENTAUR’s methodologies and outcomes. A particularly noteworthy interaction occurred with delegates of the Italian Civil Protection, who expressed significant interest in the project.
Furthermore, PhD students, private sector participants, and public institution representatives – including those from Portuguese and Spanish civil protection agencies – demonstrated interest in the project’s deliverables.
Bridging research and preparedness
The EU Science for Preparedness Conference provided a valuable opportunity for the CENTAUR project team to share its research outcomes and connect with stakeholders working across the disaster preparedness community. By linking scientific innovation with risk management, CENTAUR continues to contribute to advancing Europe’s collective capacity for early warning and anticipatory response.
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