Alliance of International Science Organizations on Disaster Risk Reduction (ANSO-DRR) Meeting

Prof Emily Chan, Prof Kevin Hung and Mr C S Wong of CCOUC team participated in the 2nd Discussion Meeting (Webinar) for Alliance of International Science Organizations on Disaster Risk Reduction (ANSO-DRR) on 18 May 2020. The meeting was a discussion of the future development and activities of the international organization, with the participation of 35 experts from various countries. Multi-country and regional collaboration, as well as trans-disciplinary approach were highlighted. Prof Chan was endorsed as one of the 13 members of the ANSO-DRR international steering committee in the meeting.

ANSO-DRR was launched in May 2019, with the collaborative efforts of Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment (IMHE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sichuan University, Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and other institutions and universities from countries including China, Italy, Belgium, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc. It currently has 30 members and was formally recognized as one of thematic alliances under the umbrella of Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) on 10 December 2019. ANSO is a non-profit, non-governmental international scientific organization founded in 2018 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and 36 other international science and education institutions from around the world. Co-chairs of ANSO-DRR are Professor Peng Cui from CAS and Professor Gretchen Kalonji, Dean of Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction of Sichuan University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

ANSO-DRR aims to enhance education, young scientists training, and international communication and to provide scientific instructions on natural disaster prevention, major infrastructure construction and socioeconomic development by collaboration among global scientists and organizations. One of its key strategies is to enhance disaster mitigation and response through multi-disciplinary cooperation among disaster and healthcare sciences. The potential working areas are South Asia, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. Potential collaborating countries include Pakistan, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Thailand, Belgium and Italy. ANSO-DRR will be dedicated to address the most urgent challenges of disaster risk reduction through collaborative efforts under the framework of ANSO. It is committed to making contributions to the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction 2015-2030 and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at regional level, and contributing to safe, green, resilient and sustainable society through integrated efforts.