Natural Hazards Observer
| July 2004 | Volume XXVIII | Number 6 |
Below are the most recent conference announcements received by the Natural Hazards Center. A comprehensive list of hazards/disaster meetings is posted on our web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/conf.html.
2004 ESRI International User Conference. Sponsor: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI). San Diego, California: August 9-13, 2004. This conference includes sessions on designing and managing a Geo-graphic Information System (GIS) database, system archi-tecture design, introductions to spatial modeling and GIS, and special sessions on public safety, law enforcement, and homeland security, as well as applications related to natural resources, planning, and hazards. Student internships are available. Information is available from James Cox, ESRI, 380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373; (909) 793-2853 ext. 1-1363; http://www.esri.com/events/uc/.
Western Pacific Geophysics Meeting. Sponsor: American Geophysical Union (AGU). Honolulu, Hawaii: August 16-20, 2004. Along with many of the various conference sessions at this meeting, of special interest to hazards researchers is a session on "Natural Hazards and the Public," which posits that an understanding of natural hazards in the Pacific and elsewhere must be balanced with effective warning systems and prepared communities. This session will explore hazards mapping, warning systems, risk, mitigation, and the social science of hazards. General information is available from the AGU Meetings Department, 2000 Florida Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009; http://www.agu.org/meetings/wp04/; specific information about the hazards session can be obtained by contacting session co-conveners Gerard Fryer, e-mail: gerard@hawaii.edu, or Chris Gregg, e-mail: cgregg@soest.hawaii.edu.
Floodplain Management Association 2004 Annual Conference. Sponsor: Floodplain Management Association (FMA). Monterey, California: September 7-10, 2004. The theme of this conference is "You Can Pay Me Now, or You Can Pay Me Later-The Benefits of Disaster Planning." It will explore ways to make protecting the public from natural and human-caused disasters the highest priority for engineers, floodplain managers, educators, and policy managers. Information is available from FMA, P.O. Box 712080, Santee, CA 92072; (619) 204-4380; e-mail: haveblue@ix.netcom.com; http://www.floodplain.org/calendar.htm.
2004 NEMA Annual Conference. Sponsor: National Emergency Management Association (NEMA). New York, New York: September 11-15, 2004. The agenda includes a World Trade Center memorial, public and private sector meetings, and more. Information is available from NEMA, P.O. Box 11910, Lexington, KY 40578; (859) 244-8000; e-mail: nemaadmin@csg.org; http://www.nemaweb.org/?526.
2004 APWA International Public Works Congress and Exposition. Sponsor: American Public Works Association (APWA). Atlanta, Georgia: September 12-15, 2004. This annual meeting on public works includes sessions on emergency management, stormwater and flood control, traffic operations, best practices in public works, technology, and networking opportunities. Information is available from APWA, c/o Custom Registration, Inc., 2020 Randal Mills Road, Suite 307, Arlington, TX; (817) 277-7187; http://www.apwa.net/Meetings/Congress/2004/.
XXIX Assembly of the European Seismic Commission (ESC). Potsdam, Germany: September 12-17, 2004. This meeting's program will focus on the seismicity of the European-Mediterranean area, data acquisition, theory and interpretation, earthquake source physics, earthquake prediction research, engineering seismology, and rapid intervention field investigation teams. Information is available from B.-G. Luehr, LOC XXIX General Assembly ESC, GFZ Potsdam Telegrafenberg E456, D-14473 Potsdam, Germany; e-mail: ESC2004@gfz-potsdam.de; http://www.gfz-potsdam.de/pb2/ESC2004/.
Fall World 2004. Sponsor: Disaster Recovery Journal (DRJ). San Diego, California: September 19-22, 2004. This event is designed to meet the needs of all levels of contingency planners. Information is available from DRJ, Registrar, P.O. Box 510110, St. Louis, MO 63151; (314) 894-0276; e-mail: mercedes@drj.com; http://www.drj.com/conferences/sd2004/24pg/.
Pacific Homeland Security and Natural Disaster Conference. Sponsors: Bay Area Economic Forum and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). Oakland, California: October 4-5, 2004. Conference topics and exhibits will address bioterrorism and the health care system, shipping and transportation security, infrastructure vulnerability, corporate programs and business recovery, the role of local governments and special districts, the tools of technology, legislation, funding and insurance, natural hazard mitigation, effective disaster response, and preparation and coordination of the players. Information is available from ABAG, P.O. Box 2050, Oakland, CA 94604; (510) 464-7900; http://www.pacificsecurityexpo.com/.
Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) 2004. Sponsor: CTBUH. Seoul, Korea: October 11-14, 2004. This conference will examine the conceptual, historical, and technological conditions of today's tall buildings, review the advancements in related theories and practices, and suggest an outline of future developments with an emphasis on culture and technology for sustainable cities. Scholars, professionals, and stakeholders are invited to participate. Information is available from CTBUH, Convention Team, Hanjin Travel Service Co. Ltd. Haniln Building, #132-4, Bongrae-dong 1ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea; http://www.ctbuh2004.org/.
17th Annual Emergency Preparedness Conference. Sponsors: Insurance Bureau of Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, University of British Columbia, City of Vancouver, and others. Vancouver, British Columbia: October 25-27, 2004. The theme of this conference is an "Action Plan for the Future." Sessions will cover disaster resilient communities, climate change, the use of maps in emergency management, how insurance fits into the recovery process, and more. Information is available from the Emergency Preparedness Conference, 900 Heatley Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6A 3S7 Canada; (604) 665-6097; e-mail: info@epconference.ca; http://www.epconference.ca/.
International All-Risk Symposium. Sponsor: Oklahoma State University. Baltimore, Maryland: October 26-28, 2004. The focus of this symposium is on bringing together the resources and experiences of all of the agencies that would be involved in a national disaster. Sessions include integrated risk management, inter-agency communication, credentialing, public education, organizational effectiveness, leadership, diversity issues, and more. Information is available from OSU/FPP, 930 North Willis, Sillwater, OK 47078; (405) 744-2919; e-mail: coordinator@osu-iars.org; http://www.osu-iars.org/.
2004 Annual IBHS Congress. Sponsor: Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS). Orlando, Florida: November 4-5, 2004. IBHS' annual congress on property loss reduction brings together insurance professionals, emergency managers, government officials, and academics to discuss the latest developments in natural hazard mitigation. Information is available from IBHS, 4775 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33617; (813) 286-3400; e-mail: info@ibhs.org; http://www.ibhs.org/congress/.
Backyards and Beyond: 2004 Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Education Conference. Sponsor: National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), Wildland/Urban Interface Working Team. Denver, Colorado: November 4-6, 2004. This conference offers a forum for discussion and education in wildland/urban interface assessment, planning, safety, fire suppression, mitigation, resources, and best practices for bringing together diverse interests to develop and implement local solutions. Information is available from Conference Management Solutions, 310 West College Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32301 (attention: W/UI Education Conference); (850) 222-2383; http://www.firewise.org/2004conference/index.htm.
Symposium in the Sun 2004: National Symposium for Leaders of Volunteer/Combination Departments. Sponsor: International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Orlando, Florida: November 11-14, 2004. Information is available from the IAFC Registration Center c/o J. Spargo & Associates, Inc., 11212 Waples Mill Road, Suite 104, Fairfax, VA 22030; e-mail: iafcregistration@jspargo.com; http://www.iafc.org/conferences/vcos/index.asp.
Coping with Risks Due to Natural Hazards in the 21st Century. Sponsor: CENAT Natural Hazards Competence Centre. Ascona, Switzerland: November 28-December 3, 2004. This workshop will address increasing risks associated with natural disasters and the prioritized need for integrated risk management strategies, including prevention, intervention, recovery, and insurance measures. It will also focus on aspects of risk management related to understanding risk perception, risk aversion, acceptable levels of risk, and risk dialog. Information is available from Centro Stefano Franscini, Monte Verità, Via Collina, CH-6612 Ascona, Switzerland; http://www.cenat.ch/index.php?userhash=1300501&nav=672,814,814,814&l=e.
Partners in Preserving Liberty: U.S. EPA Region III Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Conference. Sponsor: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: December 5-8, 2004. This conference is geared toward emergency responders, environmental health and safety workers, individuals who deal with hazardous materials, maritime security, transportation and shipping, emergency medicine, and others. Information is available from EPA Region III, 1650 Arch Street (3PM52), Philadelphia, PA 19103; (800) 364-7974; e-mail: ConferenceAdministrator@2004conference.org; http://www.2004conference.org/.
International Workshop on Water and Disasters. Sponsors: Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), Environment Canada, United Nations University, and International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. London, Ontario: December 13-14, 2004. This workshop will provide an interdisciplinary environment to discuss a variety of international, regional, and local initiatives aimed at minimizing the negative impacts of water-related disasters. Information is available from ICLR, 1389 Western Road, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B9; (519) 661-3234; e-mail: sdoyle@uwo.ca; http://www.iclr.org/pdf/First_Announcement_2004.pdf.
World Conference on Disaster Reduction: A Safer World for All. Sponsor: United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR). Kobe, Japan: January 18-22, 2005. This conference will provide extensive discussion, sessions, and networking opportunities while assessing progress on the "Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action" from 1994 with the goal of raising international awareness of vulnerability, disasters, policy development, and action. Information is available from UN/ISDR, Palais des Nations, CH 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; +41-22-917-2103; e-mail: isdr@un.org; http://www.unisdr.org/eng/wcdr/wcdr-index.htm.
2006 World Congress of Sociology:
Papers and Ideas Invited
Planning is now underway for the International Research Committee on Disasters (IRCD) meetings that will take place as part of the World Congress of Sociology in Durban, South Africa, July 23-29, 2006. Although the World Congress is still two years away, IRCD must settle its session topics by this fall.
Sessions featuring invited senior disaster scholars, the research of young scholars, an open panel, and a discussion of "Disaster Research: Guiding Light or Lost in the Shadows of the 9/11 World?" are already on the schedule. Other suggested topics include disasters and the environment, famine, and historical and contemporary research.
For more information about the congress, or to suggest a session or inquire about presenting a paper, contact Joseph Scanlon, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6 Canada; (613) 520-7400; e-mail: jscanlon@ccs.carleton.ca.
New Centers for DHS Science and
Technology Directorate
As part of its ongoing fight against terrorism, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate recently announced four new centers: the National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense, the University Center for Post-Harvest Food Protection and Defense, the Homeland Security Institute, and the National Visual Analytics Center. The two new agro-security centers join the Homeland Security Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events led by the University of Southern California as Homeland Security Centers of Excellence (HS-Centers). These HS-Centers are the first participants in what will be an integrated network of university-based centers conducting multidisciplinary research and developing innovative educational programs to address terrorism and its behavioral aspects. (See the Observer, September 2003, p. 10 and January 2004, p. 9.)
The National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense, led by Texas A&M University, will receive $18 million over the next three years to study threats to animal agriculture, such as foot and mouth disease, Rift Valley fever, and Avian influenza. Partner institutions include the University of Texas Medical Branch, University of California at Davis, University of Southern California, and University of Maryland.
The University of Minnesota, in partnership with major food companies, Michigan State University, University of Wisconsin at Madison, North Dakota State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, Harvard University, University of Tennessee, Cornell University, Purdue University, and North Carolina State Uni-versity, will establish the new University Center for Post-Harvest Food Protection and Defense. The center will receive $15 million over the next three years to address agro-security issues related to post-harvest food production, establish best practices, and attract new researchers to manage and respond to food contamination events.
Analytic Services Incorporated (ANSER) has been selected to operate the third new center, the Homeland Security Institute, fulfilling a mandate issued by the Home-land Security Act of 2002. With nearly $130 million to work with over the next four and one-half years, the institute will serve as a "think tank," providing critical analy-sis and support in the assessment and mitigation of homeland security threats, vulnerabilities, and risks. Specific attention will be focused on policy and security matters that require scientific, technical, and analytical expertise.
Finally, the Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will receive $2.5 million this year to fund the National Visual Analytics Center (NVAC), which will provide scientific guidance and coordination for the research and development of new tools and methods to manage, visually represent, and analyze enormous amounts of diverse and complex data and information. While promoting visual analytics technology, NVAC's interdisciplinary team of experts will focus on four core responsibilities: research and development, education, technology evaluation and implementation, and integration and coordination of research programs across government agencies.
For more information about the activities of the Science and Technology Directorate, visit http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=53.