Announcement

Specifically, the conference aims to:

• Share globally expertise and experience in integrating (1) scientific information into the practice of public administration and (2) public administration needs into the scientific agenda
• Review public administration methods that encourage communities to anticipate and prepare for large disasters, especially earthquakes
• Review country papers on the science and public administration of disaster reduction
• Review protocols for cooperative and useful communications amongst and between public administrators, both central and local levels, and scientists, both professional and amateur
• Encourage appreciation and use of emerging methods of anticipating large earthquakes
• Recognize the global and ecologically connected nature of large disasters, especially earthquakes
• Develop international protocol for sharing scientific data across cultures and national boundaries, including emerging use of internet technology for global sharing of data and experiences
• Recommend areas for action, further study, and exchange
• Establish permanent communications forum for exchanging information and experiences on a continuous (real time) basis.

The conference will include panels, roundtables, poster sessions, speakers, and visits to the Tangshan area, precursor monitoring stations, and the City of Tangshan’s preserved sites and museum commemorating the 28 July 1976, magnitude 7.8 Tangshan Earthquake.

The conference is hosted by the State Science and Technology Commission of China.