Emergency Preparedness and Management Network Part II: Final Workshops, papers and disseminations

A collaborative networking project on disaster research between University of Agder (UiA), Norway, University of Stavanger, Norway (UiS), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia, University of Ruhuna (UR), Sri Lanka and other stakeholders. Background: B ased both on the forecasting of the United Nations International Panel of Climatic Change (IPCC) regarding the probability of a future increment of natural disasters, and the endeavours of the UNs International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) to re duce the impact of natural disasters, UIA, UiS, UGM and UR have launched an initiative to establish a network in Emergency Preparedness and Management (EPM) for research and higher education.Keeping in mind that disasters quite regularly have the most neg ative effects on the poor and socially disadvantaged groups in developing countries, EPMs philosophy is that disaster risk reduction must be seen in close relation with sustainable development. Possible fields of research are: 1: Understanding how haza rds turn into disasters. 2: LED - Linking emergency and development 3: Disaster risk assessments in various geographical contexts. 4: Community based disaster risk reduction and emergency assistance 5: Building robust and disaster resilient commun ities 6. The role of management and leadership in emergencies, and in development. Present net-working and workshops: With the help of ongoing support from SAMRISK we have, through workshops and seminars, established complementary stakeholders in t he 4 mentioned universities. We presently apply for additional funds for final workshops in 2010-2011 in order to: - Found a joint research programme and write PhD project proposals. - Finalize the design of the courses for a web-based international jo int program in Emergency Preparedness and Management. - Write papers in order to make our network activities known to the scientific community, students and the main population.