First Asian Science and Technology Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (ASTCDRR)

Context

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 heralds a shift from managing disasters to managing risks. It provides an opportunity to make disaster risk reduction integral to sustainable development. For this to happen, sound scientific research and evidence-based knowledge is needed. This will enable better policymaking that addresses the underlying causes of disaster risk and associated damage and loss.

The Sendai Framework calls for “Academia, scientific and research entities and networks to: focus on the disaster risk factors and scenarios, including emerging disaster risks, in the medium and long term; increase research for regional, national and local application; support action by local communities and authorities; and support the interface between policy and science for decision-making.”

The standard approach of a ‘linear’ model of communication – in which scientific facts and knowledge are transmitted/ shared directly to policymakers to ‘solve problems’ – is inadequate. The first Asian Science and Technology Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction provides an opportunity to generate a more dynamic and enduring exchange between science and policy. The conference will help determine what kind of science is required and how such knowledge can strengthen DRR policymaking.

Objectives

• Discuss the key issues, challenges, needs and opportunities in application of science in policy making and share good practices from the region.
• Discuss the way forward for promotion of science-policy interface for evidence based DRR policy making in Asian countries.
• Agree on a set of key messages towards ‘Application of Science and Technology in Disaster Risk Reduction’ (which is a main theme in the AMCDRR 2016).

Expected Outcomes

• A Statement of Commitment on how applied science and technology will strengthen the implementation of the Sendai Framework.
• A set of recommendations to feed into the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in November 2016, in New Delhi, at which applying science and technology in DRR will be a main theme.
• The sharing of knowledge and good practice from across the Asia region on how science supports evidence-based DRR policymaking.

Participants

The conference will bring together a diverse range of senior practitioners, researchers and academics from the world of science and technology. They will be joined by policymakers and representatives from government, including national Sendai Framework focal points and officials from ministries, such as those with a science, development and/or disaster focus. Participants will be drawn from the local, national, regional and international level.

Organizers

The first Asian Science and Technology Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction will be organized by the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute (HAII), a public organization under Thailand’s Ministry of Science and Technology, and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). They will be supported by UNISDR’s Asian Science Technology and Academia Advisory Group (ASTAAG), Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR), Future Earth, a research initiative on global environment change and sustainability, and other scientific organizations and networks.

How to Register?

Please fill-in the registration form (download below) and send it to Mr. Surachai Srisa-ard (Nong), UNISDR-Asia and Pacific, email: [email protected] on or before 22 July 2016.