Advanced institute on forensic investigations of disasters (FORIN)

Background

Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) is a decade-long, interdisciplinary research programme sponsored by the International Council for Science (ICSU) in partnership with the International Social Science Council (ISSC), and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). It is a global initiative seeking to address the challenges brought by natural disasters, mitigate their impacts, and improve related policy-making mechanisms.

The IRDR International Centre of Excellence (ICoE) in Taipei, together with START, IRDR and the International Council for Science (ICSU), is pleased to announce a Call for Applications for the 2012 Advanced Institute on Forensic Investigation of Disasters (FORIN) - Southeast Asia. The Institute will provide approximately 15-20 young to middle-career researchers and practitioners from Southeast Asia with the enhanced understanding, skills and resources to design, organize and carry out FORIN related studies in their own countries. Institute sessions will include educational modules, hands-on interactive exercises and field visits. Special attention will be given to disasters that have impacted cities in Southeast Asia. The FORIN project investigates how natural hazards do or do not become disasters. FORIN studies are uniquely designed to approach disaster risk research from the perspective of at least one of four basic hypotheses, each of which values success stories as well as failures in understanding the root causes of disasters and disaster risk.

All Institute participants will conceptualize an individual or collaborative project, to be presented in plenary at the conclusion of the Institute, which may later be submitted for competitive funding to support follow-on activities. Travel support is available for those individuals selected to participate and will include round-trip economy class airfare, accommodations and modest daily subsistence while in Taipei.