The RDR is an exciting cross-UCL department leading research, knowledge, education and humanitarian action. By providing a focus for UCL activities in risk, disaster and humanitarianism, with its breadth of disciplinary emphasis, promotion of novel multidisciplinary research and translation into practice, the RDR aims to assume a role of leadership both in the UK and internationally. The department is in the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MAPS), but works across all UCL's faculties, spanning natural and social sciences, mathematics and statistics, engineering and development planning, global health, anthropology, the humanities, ethics and laws, and contributes to UCL's Grand Challenges.

UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2025) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021). Furthermore, UCL is 1^st pace in the UK, 2^nd in Europe and 3^rd globally in the QS World Sustainability Rankings 2026 and has held First Class status in the People and Planet University League for seven consecutive years."