Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC), Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) successfully held the 14th International Conference in Sydney from 29-30 September 2022. The University of Sydney hosted 100 presenters of papers on diverse topics related to disaster issues, disaster risk reduction (DRR) from 18 countries origin of the presenter. This conference was opened online by the Rector of USK, Prof. Dr. Ir. Marwan, IPU. In his remarks, the Rector of USK emphasized the importance of regional collaboration in efforts to reduce disaster risk based on science and technology.
Conference chair, Dr. Aaron Opdyke, from the University of Sydney said that AIWEST-DR is the most appropriate forum to bring together academics, researchers and disaster practitioners to share various learning from multidisciplinary so that it can add to the treasures of learning and good practices of DRR.
Dr. Opdyke added that one of the challenges today is how to ensure that all parties can be involved and sheltered under the DRR umbrella, especially marginalized groups such as disability groups. For this reason, AIWEST-DR 2022 Sydney carries the theme “Inclusive and Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction”.
The first day (29/9) of AIWEST-DR 2022 Sydney presented Professor JC Gaillard from Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland, as the Keynote Speaker. Professor Gaillard delivered his thoughts entitled “thoughts and provocations for re-imagining disaster”. He explained the breadth of an individual’s perspective on disasters, including resilience as an aspect that needs to be considered in presenting DRR which more inclusion.
The spirit of inclusive DRR was sharpened during the Half-way through the Sendai Framework session “Capturing the progress on including persons with disabilities in DRR” which presented experts Dr Alex Robinson from The University of Melbourne, Prof Michelle Villeneuve and Leyla Craig from The University of Sydney, and Rofikul Hidayat from Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund.
On the second day (30/9) of AIWEST-DR 2022 Sydney three speakers shared case studies from disasters in three different locations. Professor Syamsidik from TDMRC USK delivered the 2018 Sunda Strait Tsunami. Professor Shunichi Koshimura from IRIDeS, Tohoku University delivered a lesson from the 2011 Tohoku Tsunami, while Paul McCann of McCann Consulting International conveyed the impact of the volcanic eruption disaster Tonga 2022.
In his closing remarks at AIWEST-DR 2022 Sydney, Prof. Dr. Syamsidik, director of TDMRC USK, said that the 15th AIWEST-DR in 2023 will be held again in Indonesia. 
“So far, some of the options that have been seen as the venue for the 15th AIWEST-DR in 2023 will be at Universitas Gadjah Mada , Yogyakarta or at Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh,” explained Syamsidik.
Emily Ha from the University of Sydney won the best presenter in the “student” category and Renar Berandi, a PRB consultant, was awarded as the best presenter in the general category. Meanwhile, the article presented by Ian Yriyadi Halim and Yuliagnis entitled “Measuring Social Vulnerability to Natural Hazards and Declineation of Natural Risk Zones in Indonesia” came out as the best article.
All articles that successfully pass the review and revision process will be published in the Proceedings of AIWEST-DR 2022 Sydney, Springer Nature.
