Thirty Years of Science, Technology, and Academia in Disaster Risk Reduction and Emerging Responsibilities
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ARTICLE
Thirty Years of Science, Technology, and Academia in Disaster Risk Reduction and Emerging Responsibilities Rajib Shaw1
The Author(s) 2020
Abstract The 1990 initiation of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction marked its 30th year in 2019. The three decades since then have seen significant developments in science and technology and their incorporation into the decision making in the field of disaster risk reduction. The disasters that have occurred during that time have enhanced the importance of the field, and new research and innovations have evolved. This article summarizes this evolution through the review of specific milestones. While the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 provides opportunities for synergies with the sustainable development agenda, the science and technology communities have also changed their roles from advisory to co-designing and co-delivering solutions. Higher education plays an important role in developing new generations of professionals, and the role of thematic incubation in higher education institutions is highlighted along with the development of the professional society in disaster risk reduction. The evolution from Society 4.0 (information age) to Society 5.0 will see an enhanced role of the technology-driven approach in disaster risk reduction, while traditional knowledge and indigenous technologies still remain valid for society. Scientists and science communities need to be more sensitive to changing the ‘‘last mile’’ concept to ‘‘first mile’’ thinking with respect to the users’ needs and perspectives.
& Rajib Shaw [email protected] 1
Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa 252–0882, Japan
Keywords Co-design solutions in disaster risk reduction Professional society Science and technology in disaster risk reduction Society 5.0
1 Evolution of the Disaster Field and Science and Technology The year 2019 marked the 30th year of structured approaches to disaster risk reduction. This article reviews the historical evolution of science and technology and its impacts, and the evolution in disaster regimes during this time, and discusses some of the future potentials. The year 1990 was a landmark year for disaster risk reduction, when the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR, 1990–1999) came into existence with the approval from the United Nations member states. However, its root goes back to 1984, when Frank Press, the President of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States at that time, stated at the 8th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering in San Francisco: ‘‘I believe there is great need, and much support can be found, to establish an International Decade of Hazard Reduction. This special initiative would see all nations joining forces to reduce the consequences of natural hazards’’ (UN 1993). This led to the UN General Assembly resolution in 1987, and the establishment in 1990 of the first decade of disaster reduction. I
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