Science and technology play a role in every part of life. When disasters occur—be they those that are sudden, catastrophic, and widespread or those that occur slowly and in a constrained location—people will seek out experts to provide answers, insight, or advice. Science and technology communicators may be called on to help facilitate this process.

Science and technology have an important role to play in understanding why disasters happen and how to recover from them and rebuild. When earthquakes and tsunamis occur, scientists such as seismologists and geologists may be asked to explain tectonic plates and how their movements cause such devastating effects. People may ask meteorologists how hurricanes form and ask climatologists if they are increasing in frequency because of climate change. If there is ...