■ The International Memorial Symposium “Protecting Lives from Earthquake and Tsunami Disasters”was held
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BRI/IISEE (International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering) held an international memorial symposium co-hosted with UNESCO and GRIPS ( National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies ) on June 27, 2012.
BRI has initiated international training in seismology and earthquake engineering since 1962 a half century ago. The training was supported by UNESCO fund during the first nine years to educate world-wide leading engineers and researchers. In addition, "International Platforms for Reducing Earthquake Disaster ( IPRED )" of UNESCO was established in 2007 supported by MLIT ( Ministry of Land, Infrastructure , Transport and Tourism ) , Government of Japan, and IISEE of BRI is serving as COE ( Center of Excellence ) of IPRED/UNESCO . This international symposium was held as a memorial event with such back-ground. |
In the morning session, Dr. Kazuo Oike, former Rector of Kyoto University , Director of IIAS ( International Institute for Advanced Studies ) made a key-note lecture on " Future of Seismology" , and Mr. Badaoui Rouhban, Director of Unit for Natural Disasters of UNESCO also made a key-note lecture on the role of UNESCO in disaster management.
In the afternoon session , Mr. Salvano , ex-Director of UNISDR, Prof. Koketsu, of the University of Tokyo, Dr. Fukuyama of BRI and Prof. Karagogan of the Istanbul Technical University made inspired lectures respectively . Dr. Fukuyama reported " Structural Design Requirement on the Tsunami Evacuation Buildings", which caused many interests from global participants. The latter part of afternoon session consisted of a panel discussion on " International Cooperation on Earthquake Disaster Management to Protect Lives" with disaster management expert panelists from Chile, Egypt, Peru, Romania and Japan (Prof. Okazaki of GRIPS) coordinated by Mr. Rouhban of UNESCO.
Among 150 participants of the symposium, approximately 30% of them were global participants. 20 persons of them are current trainees of IISEE as well as students of GRIPS.
“ Even if disasters cannot be stopped , I believe the vulnerability of people can be much reduced when the government and people themselves realize the role of each part for achieving the target.” said a trainee from El Salvador after the symposium.
The leaflet of the symposium is here.
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