The Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center of Universitas Syiah Kuala (TDMRC USK) will hold the 14th Aceh International Workshop and Expo on Sustainable Tsunami – Disaster Recovery (AIWEST-DR) international seminar at the University of Sydney in Australia from 29-30 September 2022. This is the second AIWEST-DR conducted overseas by TDMRC USK. In 2019, AIWEST-DR was successfully implemented at Tohoku University in Sendai – Japan. This 14th AIWEST-DR activity was first carried out by TDMRC USK since 2006 in Banda Aceh. However, currently AIWEST activities have become a joint activity of TDMRC USK with Tohoku University through the International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS) and the University of Sydney. 
As in previous years, this year’s researchers from the world of disaster are also very enthusiastic to participate in the 14th AIWEST-DR. A total of more than 130 abstracts have been submitted from 18 countries, including from Indonesia, Japan, Australia, Thailand, the United States and Germany. The abstracts have been selected by reviewers from Universitas Syiah Kuala, Tohoku University, and to be presented at the 14th AIWEST-DR event. More than 126 world researchers will present their research results and 55 present in person at the Ambecrombie Building, University of Sydney
In addition to the presentations of the researchers, AIWEST-DR will also present keynote speakers, Professor JC Gaillard from the University of Auckland. This event will be opened by the Chancellor of Syiah Kuala University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Marwan through his video broadcast from the USK Campus in Banda Aceh. Several invited speakers will also be present including Professor Syamsidik (Universitas Syiah Kuala), Dr. Alex Robinson (The University of Melbourne), Associate Prof Michelle Villeneuve (The University of Sydney), Ms. Leyla Craig (The University of Sydney), Mr. Rofikul Hidayat (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund) and Paul McCann (McCann Consulting International).
TDMRC USK also sent 10 researchers to attend in person in Sydney, including Dr. Rina Suryani Oktari, Dr. Ella Meilianda, Dr. Yunita Idris, Dr. Alfi Rahman, Dr. Nora Abdullah, Dedi Alfian, M.Sc, Adrian Ulza, M.Sc, and Nazriatun Nisa, M.Sc. In addition, other participants from various faculties at USK, Dr. Cut Dewi, Dr. Irin Caisarina, Dr. T. Roli Ilhamsyah Putra.
Through this activity, it is hoped that international cooperation will be increasingly established in the context of research related to disaster risk reduction. In addition, this AIWEST-DR activity will strengthen the vision and mission of Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) as a leading university in Indonesia in science and technology-based DRR efforts. It is known that TDMRC USK has become the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Science and Technology (PUI-PT) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology since 2017. The main committee for the 14th AIWEST-DR activity is chaired by Dr. Aaron Opdyke of the University of Sydney. Dr. Aaron Opdyke is one of USK’s TDMRC research partners who is actively conducting disaster research in Indonesia, especially in Aceh.
