INTERNATIONAL FORUM OF RESEARCH INSTITUTES FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION：

Aims and Scopes:

The catastrophic consequences of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami（the Disaster） have accelerated the need to reassess existing disaster risk management practices and disaster prevention and preparedness planning. Lessons from the Disaster and other serious events in the world show that it is imperative that we promote interdisciplinary approaches in order to adequately address existing disaster prevention and preparedness gaps, particularly those arising from possible interactions and systemic impacts of natural hazards on people, natural environment, as well as social and economic systems.

The goals of the International Forum are:

• to deepen collaboration;
• to exchange mutual issues, concerns and experiences in areas of natural hazards and disasters as well as education in safety and security ; and
• to discuss focal areas of activities of the international alliance of research institutes for disaster risk reduction.

The Forum will be comprised of two components: On the first day, we will have “Symposium on Leading International Cooperative Research of Integrated Disaster Science on Evolving Natural Hazards,” aiming at developing understandings among institutes for the project “Leading International Cooperative Research of Integrated Disaster Science on Evolving Natural Hazards.”
During the second and third days, “Symposium on Collaborative Research and Education in Safety and Security Areas” will be held to exchange mutual issues and concerns of research institutes for disaster risk reduction by sharing information and experiences. Specific topics of panel discussions are “Research Networks,” “Contribution for Society” and “Education.”

We will have distinguished four keynote speakers:

Dr. Salvano Briceno,
Vice-Chair, Science Committee, Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR), an ICSU/ISSC/ISDR programme

Prof. Jakob Rhyner
United Nations University,
Vice Rector in Europe (UNU-ViE)
and Director of Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)

Prof. Andrew Collins
Director, Disaster and Development Research Center, Northumbria University

Dr. Jean-Francois Rocchi,
President of BRGM

At the end of the symposium, we will propose a resolution for the future direction and activities of the alliance.