On November 20th, 2025 – The Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction (IDMR) - Sichuan University to further strengthen its global partnerships, hosted a nexGenDRR research delegation from the Swissnex in China for an academic exchange meeting. The session, which also included Prof. Linfeng Fan from the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, served as a dynamic platform to share research, explore synergies, and build foundations for future collaboration in disaster risk reduction (DRR).
The meeting was chaired by Prof. Di Baofeng, Dean of IDMR, with the participation of a select group of academic faculty members and administrative staff from IDMR.
Following a round of self-introductions from all the meeting participants from either side, Prof. Di delivered a comprehensive presentation about IDMR. He detailed the institute's foundation, departmental structure, and diverse faculty, highlighting its international degree programs, including the double-degree partnership with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He also showcased IDMR's significant research undertakings, national and international public service, such as emergency response missions to the Turkey and Myanmar earthquakes, and its impressive record of graduate success over the past years (both masters and PhD students) and research funding, etc.
The Swiss delegation's perspective was presented by Ms. Cissy Yiwen Sun, Head of Academia and Arts at Swissnex in China. She highlighted the Swissnex's mission of fostering the Sino-Swiss collaboration in education, research, and innovation. Her presentation highlighted key focus areas like climate change, sustainable development, and their strategic priorities for 2026, including Energy/Environment, Health, and Robotics and AI. She highlighted the "Next Generation for DRR" initiative and detailed various engagement models of Swissnex, funding opportunites, sabbatical services, and thematic programs designed to facilitate Sino-Swiss exchange and collaboration.
The interdisciplinary research interests of the Swiss delegation members—including Dr. Manuela Brunner (water-related extremes), Mr. Mathias Niffeler (urban climate modeling), Dr. Justin Veuthey (social capital in DRR), and Dr. Anna Scolobig (risk governance and nature-based solutions) indeed deeply resonated with the research engagements of IDMR.
In his concluding remarks, Prof. Di Baofeng expressed IDMR's strong willingness to collaborate with Swissnex and its delegation's researchers in areas of mutual interest, aligning with the core mission of IDMR. The formal meeting concluded on a forward-looking note, paving the way for a vibrant networking session where attendees engaged in personal discussions, exchanged research ideas, and shared contact information, marking a promising start for concrete future cooperation.
