INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM & 2nd AUN/SEED-Net REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN GEO-DISASTER MITIGATION

After a shock of 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the North Sumatra with magnitude 8.9 richter, which affecting almost of South Asia Countries and several other recent geo­disaster in Asean Region, action to minimize the risk called “geo-hazard mitigation” become an international concern. Regarding this issue, an international conference on geo-disaster mitigation is needed to increase opportunity for engineers, scientist, policy makers and practitioners in the world to get together and exchange experience on geo­disaster mitigation.

Learning from the previous geo-disaster such as in Aceh (2004), Yogyakarta (2006) and Padang (2009), Indonesia, it is recognized that high population density and high concentration of activities area are highly vulnerable to geological and environmental hazards.

One suitable approach to mitigate the problems is the application of engineering and geological knowledge on planning and development of areas, because some land is inherently more suitable for some purposes than for others. Involving engineering and geological factors in the geo-disaster mitigation represents an attempt to reduce the number of conflicts and adverse problems both in the relation to society and nature, in order to accommodate orderly development and growth while protecting life from geological and environmental hazards.

The purposes of the symposium are:
1. To share experience in Geo-Disaster and Environmental Hazards Mitigation among engineers, scientist, policy makers and practitioners in the world, in order to support the sustainable development in Asean Region.
2. To present research results within theme of Geo-Disaster Mitigation, which are carried out by AUN/SEED-Net Member Institutions, and recent research trend and discussions.
3. To broaden and strengthen the network among ASEAN universities with others.

Ramada Bintang Bali, Kuta-Bali, Indonesia, February 25-26, 2010.

Chief Organizer          : Dr. Doni Prakasa Eka Putra
Vice Chief Organizer   : Dr. Wahyu Wilopo

The main sponsors of the conference are AUN/Seed-Net JICA and ASEAN Foundation. Other sponsors and donots coming from Industrial Stakeholders are Exxonmobil Indonesia and PT. Newmont Nusa Tenggara, JOB Pertamina-Petrochina East Java and Aneka Tambang (Antam).

The two days symposium was very successfully, at least 100 scientists/engineers from abroad (Japan, Germany, USA, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and China) and also Indonesian scientist/engineers were participating on this Symposium.

It was noted that the organizer was received about 86 papers and 21 posters for the conference and only about 66 qualify papers can be presented orally. Moreover, according to the comment from participants, they are give big appreciation to the organizer because the proceeding of the conference was already printed and ready to be distributed. Another achievement, which highlight by the participants is the occured of Journal of Southeast Asian Applied Geology on this symposium.

25 February 2010
After an opening ceremony conducted by the Dean of Faculty of Engineering (Dr. In Tumiran), six (6) keynote presenters from six (6 different countries) including the Head of Geological Engineering Department Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc, Ph.D, were expose their research regarding geo-disaster mitigation.

After lunch break, the symposium was separated into two conference rooms. The separation was necessary to accommodate a lot of different theme on the geo-disaster and environmental hazards mitigation, such as earthquake, tsunami, flood, typhoon, landslide, volcano, groundwater contamination, and global disaster mitigation. The first day of symposium was closed at 16.30 local time.

At the end of the first day conference, exactly before attending the gala dinner of the symposium, which will be held on Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, participants from member of the AUN/Seed-Net Network were conducting discussion. The purpose of this discussion was to gather several issues from the host and member institutions regarding the collaborative research in the Geo-Disaster Mitigation and planning for the next conference place.

26 February 2010
The second days of the conference were started smoothly. The participants were still active and following until the closing ceremony. From total 100 participants, it was noted that about 80 participants were joined the closing ceremony. Most of the participants were agreed that the symposium was successful and willing to join the next conference on Geo-Disaster Mitigation in Asean which will be held on Kyoto, Japan at the end of 2010.