Objective: We are living through unprecedented times defined by rising vulnerability to pandemic-induced risks in our globally connected society. COVID-19 has paralyzed the globe, and the death counts keep rising, with the highest number of casualties and extensive disruptions of public life occurring in the United States. Against this backdrop, a virtual symposium has been scheduled for Friday November 20th, 2020. The goal of this symposium is to communicate ongoing research from both developed and developing countries in the hopes of manifesting actionable insights for efficiently organizing risk mitigation and recovery efforts.