On December 6, International Workshop for Youth and Young Professionals in Disaster Prevention and Reduction was held in the Academic Lecture Hall of IDMR. Philippe Pypaert, Natural Science Project Specialist, UNESCO Beijing Office; Ardito Kodijat, the UNESCO office official in Jakarta, and representatives of UNESCO's New Delhi, Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Ahmad Reshad Aziz, director of the Office of the Minister of National Disaster Management of Afghanistan, and other senior experts in the field of disaster prevention and mitigation participated. The conference brought together more than 50 foreign experts, scholars and students from world-class universities and research institutions in 19 countries including Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Japan, and Thailand, etc. Yan Shijing, vice president of Sichuan University, and the heads of the international office, as well as research and science department of SCU attended the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was presided over by Dean Gretchen Kalonji.

Vice-president Yan Shijing, on behalf of Sichuan University, welcomed scholars and students from all over the world. He said that interdisciplinary research and international cooperation have always been the strategic advantages the University. SCU aims at supporting students could gain experience in the work and social services in the fields of interdisciplinary also have the opportunities to cooperate with high-end international platforms to look at the common challenges facing mankind from a global perspective. The challenge of disaster risk reduction requires multidisciplinary, multisectoral and multinational collaboration, which is considered as an emerging academic field. President Yan also introduced the development of IDMR in recent years and the important achievements in teaching and scientific research, discipline construction, international cooperation, and social services that IDMR achieved.

Mr. Erick Gonzales Rocha made a video speech on behalf of Yuki Matsuoka, the director of the United Nations Office on Disaster Reduction. He mentioned that disasters are an inevitable challenge to humankind. Disaster risk reduction can help reduce poverty and ensure safe development, which is a necessary condition for sustainable development. Young scholars have rich knowledge and innovative capabilities, and this conference gathers outstanding talents from various disciplines in the field of disaster prevention and reduction, hoping to deepen understanding and collaboration, keep improving, and make high-level scientific research results through these excellent young scholars. In addition, he affirmed the active efforts and work that IDMR has been doing for a long time, which provides a platform for learning and experience exchange for young scholars.

Philippe Pypaert, a natural science project expert at the UNESCO Beijing Office, spoke on strengthening youth's cross-border cooperation. Han Qunli, executive director of the Integrated Disaster Risk Research Program (IRDR), made recommendations on international frontier research on disaster risk and targeted different groups of people for disaster prevention and reduction. Dean of IDMR, Prof. Gretchen Kalonji introduced the agenda and goals of this seminar in detail.

This conference is the rapid development of the School of Post-Disaster Reconstruction and Management in response to the rapid development of disaster prevention and reduction. In the face of the common challenges brought by disasters, it is urgent to share the experience of countries in the Asia-Pacific region in the context of disaster prevention and reduction. The grand event focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction 2015-2030, strengthened coordination and cooperation among young scholars, conducted cross-border and interdisciplinary research on disaster reduction, and encouraged young people in the Asia-Pacific region to work on disaster science projects. Teachers and students from IDMR, School of Public Management, West China College of Nursing and other related colleges’ representatives shared Sichuan University’s experience in disaster prevention and mitigation. Brainstormng in-group discussions with senior scholars enhanced communication and promoted future multinational cooperation plans.