The 4th International Symposium on Development of CBRN ProtectionCapabilities (2018/9/3-5)
Topics: Development of CBRN Protection Capabilities
Venue: Berlin Maritim pro Arte Hotel (Berlin, Germany)

On Sep. 5th, Prof. Shinichi Egawa, Disaster Medical Science Division of IRIDeS, made a key note
lecture in the 4th International Symposium on Development of CBRN Protection Capabilities inBerlin. CBRN is the acronym of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear hazards andthe protection from CBRN requires specific capabilities.
This CBRN symposium was organized by German Government to increase local, national,
regional and global capacities to deal with increasing CBRN hazards both coming from natural
disasters and man-made disasters. Delegates are from EU, NATO member states and many otherareas of the world. Delegates are military, government, scientists and corporates dealing with
CBRN related products.
Only a very limited number of health sector attended the symposium, but it was a rare opportunityfor Prof. Egawa to understand the current situation of CBRN hazard and its protection capability inthe region. Educator of CBRN hazards in UK showed the specific educational methods to build thecapacity to the medical students.
Prof. Egawa made a lecture entitled “Resilience, a scientific perspective” and covered the Tokyo
subway station sarin attack (1995), Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident in Great East Japan
Earthquake (2011) and the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa (2014-2016) as therepresentative examples of CBRN hazards. Prof. Egawa showed the response of the communityand health sectors, and the gap identified. After his lecture, Prof. Egawa joined the panel discussion
about the social resilience against CBRN hazards. The discussants were representatives from theFederal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, South Carolina University, and theFrench Ambassador moderated by the German Radio Broadcasting Agent.
Because CBRN requires specific capabilities, education and training are most important and theflexibility to deal with unknown hazardous materials and situations. CBRN hazards are closelyrelated with terrorism and there are increasing possibility of CBRN hazards combined with naturalhazards. In order to response appropriately without being panic, it is necessary to understand thecharacteristics of the hazard and local vulnerability context and capacities. Terrorism is not a storyof far counties in this globalism. The discussants also stressed the public awareness of CBRNhazards.
Prof. Egawa insisted the identification and intervention of the root causes of poverty and social
unstableness that may lead to terrorism. The Paris Agreement for Climate Change Adaptation andthe Sustainable Development Goals adopted in the same year with the Sendai Framework areaiming the peace and international cooperation in a harmonized way. CBRN requires specificattention, analysis, counter measures, but the peace keeping and prevention from malicious use ismore important.
Shinichi Egawa (Disaster Medical Science Division)(continues to the next page)An eight-copter drone used for chemical

The International Symposium was organizeddecontamination.

by German Government

Conference Delegates

Personal Protective Ware for CBRN hazards

Prof. Egawa talking on scientific aspect ofresilience keynote speech

Panel discussion after keynote speech