Collaboration with the French National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS) on FranceJapan Comparative Study of Disaster History, Memory, and Communication(2023/5/22-26)
Theme: Disaster history, memory, and communication
Venue: IRIDeS
Prof. Emmanuel Garnier, leader of the International Research Network “Recovery Trajectoriesof Societies to Natural Disasters” (RISCDIS), visited IRIDES on May 22-26, 2023. IRIDeS
joined RISCDIS last year and is based in the French National Centre for Scientific Research(CNRS). Its purpose is to enhance: 1) assessment of disaster risks based on lessons learned
from the past: 2) knowledge and situational awareness of disaster-related risks by citizens,empowered to act, thus raising the resilience of societies: 3) efficient cross-sectoral, crossdisciplines, cross-border coordination of the disaster risk management cycle (from prevention,preparedness to mitigation, response, and recovery) from international to local levels: 4)
knowledge and coordination regarding standardisation in the area of crisis management andCBRN-E. More information here: https://irn-riscdis.cnrs.fr/en/project/
The objective of Prof. Garnier’s visits consisted in designing three primary missions:1) Disaster monument, risk communication, and local knowledge: Prof Garnier, AssociateProf. Sébastien Boret (International Research Collaboration Office), and Assistant Prof.
Hyejeong Park (Disaster Medical Informatics Lab) are developing a joint paper on theroles of memorial monuments in risk communication and local knowledge. They visited
memorial sites and monuments in Ishinomaki, Natori, and Futaba. They identified
several areas which could be used as case studies for a comparative study with aFrench case of Cyclone Cynthia (2010).
2) RISCDIS development and promotion: Prof. Emmanuel Garnier was also introducedto several colleagues in and outside IRIDeS. He visited the Center for Northeast AsianStudies, meeting Prof. Hiroki Takakura and Associate Prof. Alyne Delaney. He
attended a seminar by Assistant Prof. Julia Gerster (Disaster Culture and ArchiveStudies) on Food Culture and Community Reconstruction after the Great East JapanEarthquake.
3) Climate change, Disaster, and History: Prof. Garnier met with Associate Prof. Daisuke
Sato (Preservation of Historical and Cultural Heritage Lab) to discuss their respective
research on climate history in Europe and Japan. Prof. Garnier presented his research
on climate change between the 1500 to 1850s. His work is based on historicalevidence in archives and private diaries, which he compares with hard science in a
multidisciplinary framework. Prof Garnier and Prof Sato agreed to build to continue a
dialogue and eventually build a collaborative paper and project.
In conclusion, the parties agreed to meet in France this autumn to stimulate further discussion
and to carry out fieldwork on these three main topics. Prof. Garnier is expected to return toSendai in December to enhance the activities of RISCDIS in IRIDeS.
Report: Hyejeong Park (Disaster Medical Informatics Lab)
Sebastien Boret (International Research Collaboration Office)
Julia Gerster (Disaster Culture and Archive Studies)(continues to the next page)

Asst. Prof. Hyejeong Park, Prof. Hiroki Takakura, Prof. Emmanuel Garnier,Assoc. Prof. Sébastien Boret, Assist. Prof. Julia Gerster (Left to Right)
and students, after Dr. Gerster’s talk.

Prof. Garnier, Assis. Prof. Park, Assis. Prof. Gerster and Mr. Honma,
a community leader and local historian in Ishinomaki.