The 8th International Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction Knowledge Service & The 2nd International Symposium on Geo-Hazards Perception, Cognition And Prediction- International cooperation for disaster risk reduction and best practices Session was held in Changsha, Hunan Province on October 26, 2024. This workshop was hosted by the Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, Natural Sciences Sector, UNESCO, and the International Knowledge Centre for Engineering Sciences and Technology (IKCEST) under the Auspices of UNESCO, organized by the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR, CAS) and the Disaster Risk Reduction Knowledge Service of IKCEST (IKCEST-DRR). The workshop attracted scientists, educators, and representatives from international organizations, as well as relevant universities, research institutions, from both "Belt and Road" countries and China, to participate.
Mr. Tian Qi, Executive Director of IKCEST, Director General of Department of International Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and Faduma Hussein Ali, Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, Natural Sciences Sector, UNESCO, delivered opening speeches. Mr. Tian Qi reviewed the annual work of IKCEST in the field of disaster risk reduction, acknowledging its effectiveness in UNESCO's Open Science Initiative and the infrastructure construction for a global community with a shared future, and extended congratulations on the platform's receipt of the 2024 Geographic Information Science and Technology Progress Award from China Association For Geospatial Industry And Sciences. Faduma introduced UNESCO's focus on how disaster preparedness and technological innovation can be applied in Africa and small island developing countries, the response to extreme heat, and the latest progress of AI technology in disaster preparedness and mitigation. Dr. Liu Chang, Secretary-General of IKCEST, Director of Division One of the Department of International Cooperation of CAE, Prof. Wang Juanle, Executive Director of IKCEST-DRR and Professor Faith Chan from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, presided over the meeting.
The workshop consisted of eight presentations. Dr. Liu Chang gave a speech on “Current Practices of the International Knowledge Centre for Engineering Sciences and Technology under the Auspices of UNESCO”, Prof. Khamarrul Azahari Bin Razak presented a report titled “Humanizing Disaster Intelligence and Risk Informatics for Climate Resilience Strategy”, Prof. Meen B. Poudyal Chhetri, from Nepal Center for Disaster Management made a report on “International Partnerships in Disaster Risk Reduction: Approaches and Best Practices”, Prof. Faith Ka Shun Chan delivered a report titled “The Sponge City Program (SCP) in China – Challenges and Opportunities”, Prof. Wang Juanle delivered a report focusing on “Construction of The Digital China-Pakistan Corridor and Its Data Sharing Mechanism”, Associate Prof. Tian Bingwei from Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, presented a report titled “International Disaster Risk Reduction Education Practice: from Innovation Class to Micro-major”, Associate Prof. Yang Fei and Dr. Li Congrong from IGSNRR, CAS, delivered reports respectively on “Heat Wave Disaster Risk Assessment and Coping Strategie”and “Disaster Emergency Service Modules and International Cooperation Mechanisms”.
After the workshop, Ms. Faduma Hussein Ali was invited to visit IKCEST headquarters in Beijing to have in-depth exchanges with the IKCEST Secretariat and DRR team. Both sides highly recognized the friendly and cooperative relationship that had been established and maintained, and focused on discussing upcoming cooperation and exchanges, including IKCEST's assessment, open science, and cooperation in priority areas of disaster risk reduction, as well as the compilation of the Engineering Education III report. They also coordinated for the upcoming visit and exchanges at UNESCO headquarters.
The successful convening of this workshop will help to strengthen the cooperation between IKCEST and domestic and international institutions, further promote international cooperation and exchanges in the field of disaster risk reduction, and thereby enhance the service capacity and influence of IKCEST-DRR.
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