AWARDS/ MEMBERSHIP IN SOCIEITES/ NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
- Recipient of United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2022
- Recipient of Norio Okada Implementation Science Award from International Society for the Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRIM), 2022
- Recipient of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) from the President of India in Education Field in 2021
- Chair of United Nations Science Technology Advisory Group (STAG) for Disaster Risk Reduction (2017-2020)
- Co-Chair of the United Nations Asia Science Technology Academia Advisory Group (2015 onward)
- Coordinating Lead Author for IPCC 6th Assessment Repot (Working Group II, Asia Chapter)
- Science Committee Member of Integrated Research for Disaster Risk (IRDR: 2018-onward)
- Steering Committee Member of RISK Knowledge Action Network (KAN) (2022-2024)
- Founding Chair of SEEDS Asia (non-profit organization, based in Kobe)
- Chair of Board, CWS Japan (non-profit organization, based in Tokyo)
- Editor-in Chief, Progress in Disaster Science, Elsevier Publisher
- Series Editor, Book series on “Community Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction”, Emerald Publisher, UK (until 2015)
- Series Editor, Book Series on Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices”, Springer Publisher
- Editorial board member, Climate
- Editorial board member, “Disaster Prevention and Management”, Emerald Publisher, UK)
- Member, Japan Society of Natural Disaster Sciences
- Member, Japan Society of Regional Safety
- Chair, United Nations Science Technology Advisory Group (STAG)
- President, Asian University Network of Environment and Disaster Management (AUEDM)
- Co-chair, UN ISDR Asia Science Technology and Academia Advisory Group
- Board Chair, CWS Japan (International NGO, with Japan office)
- Board Chairman, SEEDS Asia (non-profit organization based in Kobe)
- Editor-in Chief, Current Research in Disaster Science, Elsevier Publisher
- Series Editor, Book series on “Community Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction”, Emerald Publisher, UK (until 2015)
- Series Editor, Book Series on Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices”, Springer Publisher
- Editorial board member, “Atmospheric and Climate Sciences”, Scientific Research Publishing, USA
- Editorial board member, “Climate”, MDPI Publisher, Switzerland
- Editorial board member, “Disaster Prevention and Management”, Emerald Publisher, UK
- Member, Japan Society of Natural Disaster Sciences
- Member, Japan Society of Regional Safety
My experiences on social contribution can be broadly divided into five following parts:
1. Work with the local governments in Japan and abroad
At the aftermath of major disasters, I worked closely with the local governments in Japan and abroad to provide advices on disaster recovery and innovative programs of disaster risk reduction and environmental management. Following are some of the examples:
-
2004 Typhoon 21 and 23 in Japan:
After the devastating typhoon 21 and 23 of 2004, I was part of the advisory member to the cities of Saijo [Ehime prefecture] and Tokooka [Hyogo prefecture]. With Saijo city, I developed some recovery plan in the education sector, which rather turned as “12 year old education” for the city, and continue till date. The Toyooka experience was to provide advisory services along with the UNEP [United Nations Environment Programme], and develop the environmental dimension of the recovery program, which was launched in the 2nd UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction [WCDR] in Kobe, Japan by then Minister of Environment Koike Yuriko and UNEP Director Klaus Toffer.
-
2011 East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami:
After the devastating tsunami, I was advisor to the cities of Kamaishi, Kesennuma and Natori. In case of Kamaishi, I chair the committee for school construction and community recovery n the Toni district. In case of Kesennuma, I worked closely with the board of education and provided advices on ESD [Education for Sustainable Development] and disaster risk reduction. In Natori, I provided advices on FM radio establishment and its operation for emergency period information sharing.
-
Local governments abroad:
I worked closely with city government in different countries like Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, and provided expert advices on city’s disaster risk reduction and environmental management.
2. Work with the Non-Profit Organization [NPO]
I have been the founder Chairperson of a Kobe based NPO called SEEDS Asia [www.seedsasia.org], which has been working in the developing countries in Asia for disaster risk reduction and environmental management. After its establishment in 2006, SEEDS Asia has worked in Pakistan, Maldives, Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and Vietnam. As a professional NPO, SEEDS Asia provides innovative tools for disaster education and community based risk reduction as well as community based environmental management practices. SEEDS Asia work has been highly appreciated by the MOFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs] of Government of Japan, JICA [Japan International Cooperation Agency] and different overseas local governments. As the Board Chairperson, I provide overall guidance of its operation, as well technical support.
3. Work with international agencies
I have been involved with different United Nations programs [with UNEP, UNU, UNESCO and UNISDR] in different capacities. Following are some of the committee, which I chair and/or a member.
- Co-Chair of the United Nations Asia Science Technology Academia Advisory Group
- Co-Chair, UNEP Committee of Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction
- Committee Member, JICA: Study on mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into development
- Founding Member, UNEP Disaster and Environment Working Group of Asia
- Member, UNESCO Asia Regional Task Force of Education for Disaster Risk Reduction
- Board Member, World Seismic Safety Initiative
- Board Member, Risk Red
- Board Member, Coalition of Global School Safety
4. Work with university network
Starting from working with three partner universities in India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka at the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, I have started a university network, called “Asian University Network of Environment and Disaster Management [AUEDM]”, and currently serve as the Chairperson of the network. The network promoted higher education, research with local communities, and international collaboration among the universities, as well as with outside stakeholders. The AUEDM network has now 34 members from 17 countries and regions in Asia. The network also facilitates small research grants for young researchers to collaborate and conduct action research, and publish academic papers along with practitioners and professionals.
