The 11th APEC Senior Disaster Management Officials Forum (SDMOF 11) chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in cooperation with APEC National Committee 2017 and People's Committee of Nghe An province takes place in Vinh from 20-22 September 2017. This is an important event among the activities of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Vietnam 2017.
At the conference, speakers from 21 APEC members presented innovative activities to apply science and technology in mitigating the impact of natural disasters; developed and shared the integrated approaches to promote science and technology in disaster management in APEC economies. It is concluded that disaster prevention and mitigation plan should also be integrated into socio-economic development plans of all levels, branches and localities.
Delegation of Thuyloi University including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Canh Thai, Vice Rector, and representatives of Faculty of Civil Engineering and International Cooperation Department attended the conference, sharing experiences and proposing solutions for the mitigation of natural disasters with focus on the "Dam Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Tool" developed by the Vietnam-New Zealand Dam Safety Project. This is a new tool developed by Thuyloi University and Damwatch Engieering Ltd., New Zealand, with the aim at provide a rapid and effective evaluation method for dam management in Vietnam. This tool supports the dam safety management and mitigates the disaster risks related to dam failures. Domestic and international delegates at the Conference expressed a strong interest in the tool.
In addition, at the conference, Thuyloi University also participated in the exhibition to show the university’s research products, including inudation maps of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, the Dam Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Tool and the results of coastal erosion research in Cua Dai, Hoi An and Thu Bon river Delta.
Vice Minister Hoàng Văn Thắng (MARD) and international guests at Thuyloi University’s exhibition
The exhibited information has practical implications for Vietnam in particular and APEC economies in general. New proposals, initiatives on disaster management models should be promoted in the coming time, the role of research institutions, regulatory agencies in the management of disaster management shoud be strengthened. This is also an opportunity for Thuyloi University to improve its image and position in the field of research and professional training, especially in the natural disaster management in Vietnam.
Tam An