COORDINATOR'S MESSAGE

Dr Taksiah

Message from the Coordinator of DRN

Welcome to the Disaster Research Nexus (DRN), School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

 

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) being a sustainability led academic institution recognizes the urgent needs to develop programs, resources and human capital within USM with a global aim of managing and mitigating the potential adverse effects of natural/human made hazards such as floods, earthquakes, landslides and tsunamis which could lead to unforeseen disaster. In order to achieve this objective, the School of Civil Engineering (PPKA), Universiti Sains Malaysia has initiated the establishment of this Nexus. The School of Civil Engineering is honoured to be responsible to take charge, coordinate and manage the Nexus. The setting-up of the DRN was approved in the 72nd school board meeting on 11 March 2010.

 

The DRN will co-ordinate the development of technology, human capital and awareness as well as expertise to better understand, monitor, model, mitigate and manage the risks associated with these natural/human made hazards. The Nexus pursues basic research on the prediction and mitigation of natural disasters, as well as interdisciplinary applied research oriented towards on-site applications. Natural disasters being investigated include those that are caused by earth and sea surface processes and are related to fields such as geology, geophysics, geomorphology, hydrology, oceanography, soil science, environmental technology and climate change. The DRN focuses on research related to the generation, behavior and impacts of natural disasters, as well as methods of hazard mapping and mitigation, interdisciplinary studies within and outside of USM, and practical applications of sophisticated basic and applied research. At present, there are 22 researchers covering various expertise in disaster research and management in this Nexus. Based on the available expertise at USM, the DRN has identified five main projects, i.e. earthquake, tsunami, flood, landslide and bio-hazards.

 

DRN invites interested government agencies and private organizations from various engineering, science, social and financial disciplines to participate either as an associate or a partner. For our partners, arrangements can be made to carry out research into some specific topics or issues of common interest.

 

 

“Ensuring future sustainability through efficient disaster management”

 

 

ASSOC. PROF. DR. TAKSIAH A. MAJID

Coordinator,

Disaster Research Nexus