NATURAL DISASTERS
Biological
Epidemic
Viral Infectious Disease
Bacterial Infectious Disease
Parasitic Infectious Disease
Fungal Infectious Disease
Prion Infectious Disease
Insect Infestation
Animal Stampede

Geophysical
Earthquake
VolcanoMass Movement (Dry)RockfallLandslide
Avalanche
Subsidence

Natural Disasters
Classification
Source:Guha-Sapir, D., Hoyois, Ph., and Below,
R. Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2013:
The Numbers and Trends. Brussels, CRED, 2014

HydroMeteorological
MeteorologicalHydrological

Storm
Tropical Cyclone
Extra-Tropical Cyclone
Local StormFlood
General Flood
Flash Flood
Storm Surge / Coastal Flood
Mass Movement (Wet)
RockfallLandslide
Avalanche
Subsidence

Climatological
Extreme Temperature
Heat Wave
Cold Wave
Extreme Winter Condition
Drought
Wildfire
Forest FireLand Fire

The Association of Pacific Rim Universities’ (APRU)

Academic Contributions toDisaster Risk Reduction
The intensity and frequency of natural hazards are increasing globally. To tackle this challenge, there is an urgent needfor comprehensive and multi-stakeholder approaches with the involvement of new and non-traditional actors such as
academia and the private sector.
Implementation of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the most effective and efficient manner on the ground must be on thebasis of large amount of data and information. Moreover, research results developed in academia and private researchfacilities must be utilized by and shared with various stakeholders such as governments, international and regionalorganizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector, and especially communities with higher risksof disasters due to factors as simple as their geography. Natural disaster-related policies and decision making must be
ideally supported by scientific data and evidence.
In addition, the needs for the elements of social science including education and training, awareness raising, policy
development, community empowerment, networking and partnership building are increasing. It has already been proventhat science and technology alone are not enough to reduce the underlying causes of natural disasters; individual levelof disaster preparedness is extremely important too. Academia must support and be involved in DRR initiatives fromboth ways—technology and science and social science, utilizing their research results and outcomes.

Association of Pacific Rim Universities

Major Issues and Challenges for
the APRU-IRIDeS Multi-Hazards Program1. Data sharing is dif�icult among different countries/economies. Without awell-recognized means of data sharing, it is nearly impossible to address the problems
that cross national boundaries. Data sharing can be a sensitive issue that lacks mutual
understanding and strong collaboration. For instance, GPS and other earth system data
should be openly available for research, but this is not always the case.

2. Lack of research into causes and consequences of Paci�ic Rim disasters. This is amultifaceted problem with research needs in the physical sciences, social and economicsciences, and technology. The following lists the needs:
A. Disaster modeling for improved forecasting

B. Internet approaches to disseminate critical information including warnings and mitigation
approaches

C. Economic models and approaches for building resilience in communities before disasters strike
D. Best practices to develop and provide insurance

E. Improved public policy approaches that are prepared to anticipate and mitigate natural andman-made disasters

3. Lack of higher education specialized in disaster management and DRR. While higher
education is the key to develop professionals in the subject, very little focus is given so far
on the higher education. It results in lack of disaster experts in the region and DRR
elements and knowledge are not fully re�lected in national and local plans and strategies.
For instance, politicians and �inance of�icials must understand the importance of including
DRR budget, and city planners need to know how to design cities and towns resilient tonatural disasters. Disaster management as a profession has not taken off in the region yet.

4. Linkages and platforms are missing between academia, practitioners, governments,
and policy-makers to encourage an ongoing dialogue that crosses all borders. There
are few opportunities for these various stakeholders to meet and exchange informationand lessons learnt. In particular, it is necessary for academia and universities tounderstand what kind and types of data and information are required and useful for otherstakeholders. Moreover, the actual and real needs on the ground are dif�icult to beunderstood without active involvement of local stakeholders such as local governments,
local NGOs, civil society organizations, and small- and medium-sized enterprises.
5. Lessons learnt, and scienti�ic reports and �indings not being fully assimilated insocietal learning environments to feed institutional, legal and political changes.
Especially in Asia, where there is one of the most disaster prone regions in the world,many lessons have been learned and many disasters have been experienced. However,
the knowledge gained from these events has not been broadly shared so as to bere�lected in decision-making processes for new policies and regulations.

6. Disaster awareness and knowledge at community level is insuf�icient. To build
community resilience, the involvement of communities in the DRR process and theirawareness raising is crucial. In general, the focus of DRR efforts is on a national level. The
local level is often overlooked. Although, advocacy to national level is critical, directcommunication and information sharing to community level is equally important.
Without community empowerment, community resilience cannot be established andmaintained.

The Association of Pacific Rim Universities’ (APRU)

Academic Contributions toDisaster Risk Reduction

Universities and academia should commit toand need to work on :1. Supporting further technology development. Technology can further contribute tocreating excellent tools and improving capacity and skills, but it requires investment.
Shared investment along with policy development for data sharing, instrument
development and maintenance, infrastructure software, and modeling and forecasting
are all necessary.

2. Strengthening and encouraging innovative, creative, and interdisciplinary researchin science, technology, social science, engineering and other various �ields related
to disaster management. Universities and scholars have to understand the importanceof active collaboration among different departments and �ields to facilitate true
improvement in disaster management. A DRR concept needs to be incorporated into
various subjects. Such interdisciplinary research can further contribute to implementing
practical DRR and is required to enhance community resilience on the ground.
3. Making efforts to create and adopt the effective curriculum and courses fordisaster and emergency management. DRR encompasses all faculties of knowledge
ranging from engineering, science, social science, humanities and so on. How to combine
and link it with other subjects is challenging, but nonetheless necessary and crucial.
Furthermore, universities should look into a possibility to develop a diverse range oftopics, courses and curriculum to provide the academic and technical skills necessary tointervention in DRR and disaster management.

4. Supporting the development of a link, platform, and opportunity for various
stakeholders such as a DRR national platform. Facilitating the creation of opportunities
to work and collaborate with other stakeholders, including the private sector,
governments, international and regional organizations, donor agencies, as well as NGOs,
trading advice and suggestions in the development and research process. Furthermore,
making efforts to create opportunities to have a dialogue and to advocate DRR issues topolicy makers is crucial. Any suggestions and recommendations in this regard must be
based on research results and �indings. Collaborating with universities and academia canthus be of great value. Because there are only a few opportunities for these groups to meetand discuss these critical issues, the APRU could play a tremendous role in facilitatingsuch meetings as it is obvious that clear lines of communication are the missing link.

5. Working with local stakeholders and encouraging their involvement andparticipation in DRR process. Science and technology communities must �ind a way tocommunicate with the stakeholders, and also deliver knowledge and tools to them. It is
possible for universities to contribute to such activities and advocacy through seminars,materials development and distribution, joint community activities, and simulation
exercises and so on. It is of utmost importance to consider that the communities, bothactors and receivers, are the key for DRR actions.

6. Strengthening their own capacity of disaster preparedness on campus. Universities
have the responsibility of protecting the lives of students, faculty, and staff as well asassets from natural disasters. It can be done by conducting thorough risk assessment
and simulation/evacuation exercises, strengthening early warning system andemergency communication system, developing response guideline, plans and disaster
resistance infrastructure, and providing disaster handbook and guidance to students.
Universities should invest on their own safety by securing the budget for humanresources, infrastructure, material/guideline development, and so on.

Association of Pacific Rim Universities

APRU
The Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) is a network of 45 premier research
universities from 16 economies across the Pacific Rim. APRU's Strategic Framework reflects
the priorities of member universities in education, research and contribution to society:

Association of Pacific Rim Universities

1. Shaping Asia-Pacific Higher Education and Research
APRU universities together aim to shape the policy environment for higher education andresearch in the region.
2. Creating Asia-Pacific Global Leaders
APRU universities cooperate to enhance their global leadership as institutions and theleadership of faculty, administrators and students.
3. Partnering on Solutions to Asia-Pacific Challenges
APRU universities work together and with partners from government and business,international organizations, other universities and community leaders on solutions toglobal and regional challenges.

APRU-IRIDeS Multi-Hazards Program
APRU and the International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS) at Tohoku
University launched the APRU-IRIDeS Multi-Hazards (MH) Program in April 2013. IRIDeS
provides administrative services as the regional program hub to the MH Program. The
Pacific Rim region is subject to high risks of natural disasters and the universities andresearch institutions in the region are expected to contribute to reducing disaster
vulnerability and risks and strengthening disaster management capacity to tackle thesechallenges. The main objectives of this program are to harness the collective capabilities ofAPRU universities for cutting-edge research on DRR and to contribute to international
policy-making processes to steadily improve DRR.

Activities of the Multi-Hazards program• Annual Multi-Hazards Summer School to share the lessons learnt from large disasters andto contribute to fostering regional disaster experts.
• Supporting the organization of the annual Research Symposium on Multi-Hazards.
• Conducting collaborative research and sharing results and data among the APRU
institutions.
• Contributing to discussions, and international and regional DRR decision-making
processes like the Post-2015 Framework for DRR.
• Promoting natural disaster preparedness capacity on university campuses by conducting asurvey on campus safety and by publishing a report on the outcomes.

CONTACTS
For further information or enquiries on the APRU and the APRU MH Program please contact

Association of Pacific Rim Universities

IRIDeS, Tohoku University

APRU Secretariat

468-1-S301 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku,Sendai, 980-8579 Japan
Tel: +81 22 752 2094
www.irides.tohoku.ac.jp

NUS Shaw Foundation Alumni House, 2F
11 Kent Ridge Drive, Singapore 119244
Tel: +65 6516 3140
www.apru.org