Aug. 28 deadline to apply – Training Workshop on Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation; 23 Nov – 4 Dec Sanya, China

Attention early- and mid-career scientists from developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America wishing to increase scientific knowledge of disaster mitigation and space technology. Applications due August 28,2015 for the 3rd International Training Workshop on Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation (23 November-4 December, 2015)

In response to the needs of developing countries in disaster mitigation to tackle the natural and human-induced environmental disaster, SDIM* will organize the 3rd International Training Workshop on Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation with the theme of “Earth observations for Disaster Risk Management in Developing Countries: Technical Practice and Scientific Application”. With the objective of providing a scientific and practical guide to the participants from developing countries, the workshop will collect and integrate information on international best practices with the applicants to a number of hazards events, especially for floods, droughts, earthquakes and so on. Experts from various national and international organizations, such as TWAS, UN agencies, ICSU, GEO, etc., will share their experiences with working on disaster mitigation and Earth observation. The language of the workshop is English. Knowing or speaking some Chinese will be an advantage.

Topics to be covered:

  • Current Progress on Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation
  • Theory and Practice of Remote Sensing
  • EO Data Receiving and Processing
  • Comprehensive Management of Natural Hazards
  • Integrated Risk Assessment and Reduction
  • Disaster Emergency Response System
  • Application of Prevention and Mitigation Strategies
  • Principles and Concepts of Recovery and Reconstruction

Who should apply: The training workshop will bring together early- and mid-career scientists or policy makers from developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America wishing to increase scientific knowledge of disaster mitigation and space technology.  A background in space technologies or disaster mitigation is an advantage; fluency in English is required. As the number is limited to 20 people, only those who are qualified can be selected as formal participants. Female applicants will be given priority.

How to apply: Applicants fill in the application form that can be downloaded at the bottom of the workshop page and submit it to the SDIM Secretariat at sdim@radi.ac.cn or by fax +86-10-8217-8104. Application deadline is 28 August, 2015. The selection group will examine the applications and notify the applicants of the decisions before 20 September, 2015. Invitations will be sent to the selected applicants for visa formalities at the same time.

Financial Assistance: Those applicants who have been selected will be provided round-trip international airfares between their home countries and Sanya (economy class), and the local expenses such as board and lodging, field tour, local transportation, etc. during the workshop.

Host: CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence on Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation* Co-organizer: Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI)**, Chinese Academy of Sciences and IRDR Chinese National Committee. This workshop is also supported by: International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE), International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under the auspices of UNESCO, and Hainan Key Laboratory of Earth Observation.

*CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence on Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation (SDIM) is formally established in 2013, jointly sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), and hosted by the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) of CAS. The goal of the Centre is to conduct much-needed research on disaster mitigation through advanced space technologies, especially space-borne Earth observation technology and provide knowledge transfer in developing countries through joint research, education, training workshop and advisory services.

**RADI is a comprehensive research institute directly under CAS. It was established on September 7, 2012, through consolidating two CAS institutes: the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications (IRSA) and the Center for Earth Observation and Digital Earth (CEODE). RADI has become an important task force in the field of Earth observation, with competence in various key areas, including space borne-airborne-ground remote sensing data acquisition and processing, basic research into remote sensing and geospatial information science, Digital Earth science platform and information analysis on global environment and resources, a competent research team covering a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, and S&T international collaboration.