Tsunami Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) Universitas Syiah Kuala provided science communication knowledge to 40 young disaster researchers from Japan and Indonesia. The international training program called Young Pro – DRR 2022 began from 17 – 20 January 2023 at the TDMRC USK Building (Banda Aceh, January 20, 2023).
Chairman of the Committee of this activity Haekal A. Haridhi, Ph.D explained, Young Pro – DRR 2022 is an international training program that gets support from UNESCO and the Japanese Fund-In-Trust. This program raised the theme, “Science communication strategies in disaster risk reduction (tsunami)”.
“So this training focuses more on communicating science for disaster risk reduction,” he said.
Therefore, there are five modules discussed in this training program. Such as tsunami mitigation, disaster knowledge management, innovative projects and how to communicate science with various existing channels for disaster risk reduction.
“All of these materials were delivered by resource persons who are world-renowned researchers or professors from Indonesia, Japan, and Argentina who pursue these fields,” he said.
The participants who took part in this program came from various backgrounds. Among them, museum curators, students, fresh graduates, disaster activists and others. The participants were those who had been selected from the 108 people who applied. “So 40 people are selected or eligible to take part in this Young Pro – 2022 DRR program,” he said.
Head of TMDRC USK Prof. Dr. Syamsidik, S.T., M. Sc said, the Young Pro program is an effort by TDMRC USK to form a young generation capable of continuing disaster risk reduction programs, from various disciplines or fields of work.
Because previously, said Syamsidik, TDMRC USK had carried out many programs for this sustainability effort. For example, initiating disaster and environmental courses, forming Disaster Resilience Facilitators (FASTANA), and conducting several other projects in schools. “So TDRMC continues to strive to ensure that disaster risk reduction efforts are sustainable. The way is by forming young groups, because they are more accepted by the community,” he said.
USK Vice Rector I Prof. Dr. Ir. Agussabti, M.Si in his remarks when closing this activity said that the university leadership really welcomed the implementation of this training program. He considered that universities should take an important role in disaster risk reduction efforts. “So we really appreciate the involvement of these young researchers. Hopefully this can further encourage disaster risk reduction efforts in Aceh and the Indian Ocean Region,” he said.
In the next stage, UNESCO and TDMRC USK will select 40 trainees to participate in the competition as Young Professional Champion in Disaster Risk Reduction (Young PRO DRR 2022). The selection process will take place from January 23-27, 2023 and will select 3 Young Pro DRR 2022 champions. Judges in this international competition will come from disaster researchers from Indonesia, Japan, Australia, and Argentina. The winners will be entitled to a number of awards and prizes from UNESCO, TDMRC USK and The Japanese Funds-in Trust.