Media

A Year after the Sichuan Earthquake - A Symposium on Disaster Management

07 May 2009

 

With the first anniversary of Sichuan Earthquake approaching, there are many who cannot forget the trauma and magnitude of the catastrophe. Have developments in science and technology now strengthened our capability to manage and reduce the impact of natural disasters. Distinguished speakers from Chinese Academies, local and overseas will gather together at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), for a day of intensive discussion and updates on different aspects of disaster management on May 9, 2009.

Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet Ngor, JP, Secretary for Development of HKSAR Government and Professor Richard Y C Wong, HKU Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, will officiate at the Opening Ceremony.

HKU established the "512 Earthquake Roundtable" after the massive quake struck Sichuan last year. With the support from alumni and the community, the group provides seed money to support immediate services and post-catastrophic research initiatives of the HKU. Professor S P Chow will meet the press in the afternoon to present an overview of the funded projects, which include a "Low-Cost Earthquake Protection Method Using Tire-Soil Mixtures", "Inherent Strength-Based Approach for Seismic Resistant Design of Low-Rise Masonry Buildings", "Setting-up a Standard and Building a Model of Multimedia E-learning Classrooms for Rebuilt Schools in Sichuan". Additionally, projects conducted by the HKU Centre on Behavioral Health include a psychosocial capacity building programme for the bereaved family and individuals, which in turn enhances the training for the local social workers and equips them with skills in post-disaster management. (please see below)

In addition, two top mainland academics, Professor Li Deren, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Professor Wang Sijing, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, will share their expertise on "Remote Sensing and GIS for Disaster Management" and "Extreme Natural Disasters and Risk Management" respectively.

Members of the media are cordially invited to attend both the Symposium and the Press Conference, and the details are:

Symposium on Disaster Management
Date: May 9, 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 9:15am - 5:00pm
Venue: Wang Gungwu Lecture Hall, Graduate House, HKU

Press Conference
Date: May 9, 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: P501, Graduate House, HKU

Symposium Programme:-

"Remote Sensing and GIS for Disaster Management"
- Professor Li Deren, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chairman of the Academic Commission of Wuhan University.

"The Offer of Assistance"
- Mr Wilson M F Wong, Deputy Secretary General, Hong Kong Red Cross

"HKU Roundtable Initiatives"
- Professor S P Chow, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Chair Professor of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, HKU

"PolyU's Responses to the Rehabilitation Needs after the Wenchuan Earthquake - Implications to Disaster Management"
- Professor Arthur F T Mak, Head and Chair Professor, Department of Health Technology and Informatics, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University

"Extreme Natural Disasters and Risk Management"
- Professor Wang Sijing, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Professor of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"Power System Management with Smart Grids"
- Professor Felix F Wu, Chair Professor of Electrical Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, HKU

"Ice Storm and Electric Transmission System Security"
- Professor Li Licheng, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Secretary General, China Southern Power Grid Co Ltd

"Flash Algae Disasters in China"
- Professor Joseph H W Lee, Redmond Chair of Civil Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, HKU

"Earth Science, Engineering and Disaster Management of Natural Hazards in Japan"
- Professor James J Mori, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan

"Landslide Hazard Mitigation"
- Professor C F Lee, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Director of School of Professional and Continuing Education, HKU

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Trinni Choy, Assistant Director of External Relations (Tel: 2859 2600/E-mail: pychoy@hku.hk ) or Ms Joanne Yung, Manager (Media), External Relations Office, HKU (Tel: 2859 2600/E-mail: hkumedia@hku.hk )