Nexus of Science and Society in Risks Understanding: A Case from the 2012 Seti River Flash Flood

<title>Abstract</title> <p>Western science and local knowledge have different epistemological and ontological grounds, conflicting ideologies, and contradicting views and approaches seeing phenomena, including risks and risk perceptions. This paper explores the potential for collaboration between these two systems to better comprehend flood risks and responses, particularly in mountainous regions, using the case of the Seti River flash flood in central Nepal on May 5, 2012, as a reference. We used both Western knowledge (facts and figures) to explain the flood and local people’s narratives behind the causes of the flood. In addition, we also examine the failure of a relocation program for flood affected households. The findings reveal that Western science and local perspectives have different ontological and epistemological grounds for explaining the risks. Western knowledge tells us that flood risks can be rampant along with the increase in water level in rivers triggered by changes in precipitation patterns, rapid glacier melts, outbursts of glacier lakes, massive landslides and blockage of river flow which can be measured and explained through models, figures and facts, whereas local interpretations suggest it as a product of moral decay, cosmological and spiritual indeterminacy, greediness, and environmental disruptions. This paper argues that neither approach alone can fully account for flood-induced risks, and that a collaborative framework is essential for developing sustainable solutions. By bridging the gap between Western science and local knowledge, this study proposes a more holistic understanding of risks, providing a foundation for more effective and inclusive risk management strategy and policy.</p>