Banda Aceh, August 20, 2026 — The Rector of Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), Prof. Mirza Tabrani, S.E., M.B.A., D.B.A., paid a working visit to the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) USK. The Director of TDMRC, Prof. Dr. Muksin, M.Si., M.Phil., received the delegation, along with division heads and TDMRC staff.
The meeting discussed several of TDMRC’s strategic upcoming agendas, from the 20th-anniversary commemoration series, an international conference, a disaster-science outreach program, and the U-DARE 4.0 student innovation competition, to emergency response to the earthquake that struck Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
Series of Activities Marking TDMRC USK’s 20th Anniversary
2026 marks a special milestone for TDMRC, which turns 20 this year, having been established on October 30, 2006, through Rector Decree of Universitas Syiah Kuala Number 418 of 2006, in response to the 2004 Aceh tsunami. TDMRC’s institutional identity was later reinforced through Rector Regulation Number 02 of 2016, which designates the UPT Disaster Mitigation of Universitas Syiah Kuala as also being known as the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC).
Over the past two decades, TDMRC has been actively engaged in a wide range of programs to strengthen community protection from disaster risk — through science- and technology-based approaches, institutional capacity building, the development of disaster regulatory frameworks, community preparedness programs, and disaster risk mapping.
To mark this milestone, TDMRC is holding a series of activities throughout 2026:
- AIWEST-DR 2026 — “Resilience by Design: System for Sustainable Recovery” (July 2026)
- TDMRC USK In-Saintek 2026 — “Science & Education for Resilience (SERASI) to Hydrometeorological Disaster Risk” (September–October 2026)
- U-DARE 4.0 — “Facing Climate Change and Hydrometeorological Disaster Through Global Resilience: Reflections From Cyclone Senyar” (October 2026)
- 5th LMI-SIR Annual Meeting — “From Geohazard Science to Disaster Risk Reduction” (October 2026)
- TDMRC Award & Gala Dinner (October 2026)
The entire series is being organized in collaboration with Diktisaintek Berdampak, the Master’s Program in Disaster Science USK, and the LMI-SIR Project.
TDMRC USK In-Saintek 2026: “SERASI”
TDMRC reported on the continuation of the In-Saintek Berdampak program from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) for 2026, carrying the theme “Science & Education for Resilience (SERASI) to Hydrometeorological Disaster Risk,” consisting of three activities:
- Disaster Science Camp: “Strengthening Literacy and Preparedness for Hydrometeorological Disasters” — September 28–October 2, 2026
- TS Hidromet (Hydrometeorological Disaster Risk Preparedness Training) — October 7–8, 2026
- Open House TDMRC USK 2026 (part of the 2-Decade TDMRC anniversary series) — October 14–16, 2026
This program continues the 2025 In-Saintek initiative themed “Science Literacy for Disaster Resilience,” which targeted students and communities in disaster-prone areas of Aceh, particularly those affected by the 2025 Cyclone Senyar floods.
5th LMI-SIR Annual Meeting
TDMRC also presented plans for the 5th LMI-SIR Annual Meeting, themed “From Geohazard Science to Disaster Risk Reduction,” scheduled for October 26–30, 2026. This annual gathering of the LMI-SIR Project brings together multidisciplinary experts to deepen the understanding of subduction-zone hazards, develop advanced monitoring tools, and bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and its practical application in the field.
U-DARE 4.0
As part of the 20th-anniversary commemoration series, the international disaster innovation competition USK Global Award on Disaster Resilience (U-DARE) 4.0 returns, carrying the theme “Facing Climate Change and Hydrometeorological Disaster Through Global Resilience: Reflections From Cyclone Senyar.” The competition builds on the success of previous U-DARE editions, which drew participants from across countries.
Registration for U-DARE 4.0 is now open. Participants from around the world are invited to turn their ideas into real solutions for community resilience against climate change and hydrometeorological disasters, while connecting with changemakers worldwide.
TDMRC Award & Gala Dinner
As the closing highlight of the 20th-anniversary series, TDMRC will hold the TDMRC Award & Gala Dinner in October 2026 to thank the partners, researchers, and stakeholders who have contributed to TDMRC’s disaster research and mitigation work over the past two decades.
Responding to the full slate of planned activities, the USK Rector expressed his full support for TDMRC’s strategic agenda going forward. 
“Twenty years of TDMRC’s journey is real proof that the bitter experience of the 2004 tsunami has been transformed into knowledge that benefits not only Aceh, but Indonesia and the world. USK will continue to fully support TDMRC as a center of excellence in disaster research — through strengthening facilities, research funding, and expanding international collaborations such as LMI-SIR and U-DARE,” said Prof. Mirza Tabrani.
The Rector added that the university is committed to integrating TDMRC’s agendas, including the 20th-anniversary series, into USK’s strategic priorities, while encouraging TDMRC’s achievements to continue supporting USK’s vision of becoming an impactful campus in western Indonesia.
Deployment of an Assessment and Relief Team for the Flores, NTT Earthquake
The meeting also addressed plans to deploy a rapid assessment team alongside a humanitarian relief team to the areas affected by the M7.7 earthquake that struck Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Saturday, August 15, 2026. The joint team to be deployed consists of 6 health workers from the USK Faculty of Medicine (specialist doctors, doctors, and nurses) and 1 researcher from TDMRC USK, following the same response model USK previously applied when handling the impact of Cyclone Senyar in Aceh in late 2025.
The USK Rector affirmed that the university’s presence in disaster situations is part of its academic and humanitarian commitment.
“USK will always be on the front line whenever communities need support — not only in Aceh, but also in other regions struck by disaster, such as Flores. We are proud to send a team with the scientific, technical, and humanitarian capacity to help accelerate the response to this earthquake,” he said.
