4th Multi-Hazards Summer School Report

The 4th APRU-IRIDeS Multi-Hazards Summer School, organised by the APRU Multi-Hazards Program and hosted by the International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS) at Tohoku University was held in Sendai from 19 to 22 July 2016.

 

 

This year’s summer school was titled: Handing down disaster experience and lessons-learnt to the next generation”.

 

At the four-day summer school close to 40 participants from 18 universities and institutions among the Pacific Rim:

 

  1. discussed and debated the mechanics of international disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy,
  2. gained first-hand experience during the field trip of the recovery process and its on-going activities from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami,
  3. learnt from various disaster risk reduction projects that are being developed and have been implemented in the Tohoku region and overseas
  4. discussed with experts the role of science and technology as well as universities in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

 

The importance of working with external partners and showcasing DRR research and initiatives by APRU member universities were two key topics at this year’s event. These areas were highlighted through presentations by Mr. Akira Takahashi from Sendai City, Mr. Takumi Fujimura, Tagajo City, Mr Takeshi Komino from the Church World Service, Dr Yoshiko Abe from the Kokusai Kogyo Co. Ltd, Professor John Rundle from the University of California, Davis and Professor Denis Konan from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 

On the field trip organised on day three of the course, participants found out about the recovery projects in Natori City such as the new seawall and newly built disaster public houses. Participants met representatives from local communities in Tagajo City who talked about the impact, their challenges and experiences in managing the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The group also visited Tagajo High School, a local school to hear about the latest curriculum development in relation to disaster awareness which hasa been supported by IRIDeS.

 

Dates of the 2017 MH Summer School will be announced in due course.

 

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