Participation in World BOSAI Forum 2023

How LINKS EU Project, in which Kobe University CResD is involved as an associated parter, is contributing towards the Sendai Framework priorities for Disaster Risk Reduction? Nathan E. Clark, Scientific Coordinator of LINKS, talks about it during the LINKS HORIZON 2020 presentation at the World BOSAI Forum in Sendai Japan.

Activity Report: Presentation at the Disaster Prevention Learning Event "The experience of Evacuation Centers for Foreign Residents"

In December, I participated as a speaker at the disaster prevention learning event "The experience of Evacuation Centers for Foreign Residents" (hosted by Kobe International Community Center, Kobe University Global Education Center, and Consortium Universities in Hyogo). The first part of the event, "Let's Think and Think Together! Disaster Preparedness and Evacuation Hiyan", I explained about information and evacuation measures necessary in times of disaster using "easy Japanese" (yasashii nihongo). The second part was a hands-on experience using a disaster prevention map application from the Kobe City Emergency Management Office, and the third part was a role-playing evacuation shelter experience.

Activity report: Participation as panelist at the "Conference on Disasters and People with Disabilities" hosted by Center for Persons with Disabilities in Hyogo Prefecture

17 January marked the 27th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. The tragedy cannot be forgotten. I feel that it is becoming more and more important to make efforts to pass on the experiences and lessons learned from the disaster to the next generation. Also, on January 30, I had the opportunity to participate as a panelist in the "Conference on Disasters and People with Disabilities" YouTube live broadcast (hosted by the Center for Persons with Disabilities in Hyogo Prefecture). I raised awareness of the issues related to the evacuation response of facilities that take care of people with disabilities, especially those located in disaster risk areas, and the need to prioritize the construction of these facilites in safe locations where there is no need for evacuation. In fact, it is very difficult to relocate pre-existent facilities to safer areas. First of all, I think it is important for residents and local governments to recognize and share the notion of "added value" that improve the disaster preparedness of the entire community - for example, by designating the destination of relocation as new a welfare evacuation shelter, benefiting even more the safety of community against catastrophes.

Activity report: Summer Event "Let's Play and Learn! Disaster Prevention Programming with Rolling Ball Robot!"

In August, I was in charge to conduct one of event held by the Department of Research in this year's "Bousai Mirai Gakkou", a series of summer vacation events for children hosted by Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (DRI).

This time, we held a workshop themed "Let's Play and Learn! Disaster Prevention Programming with Rolling Ball Robot!". With the participation of parent-child pairs (5th and 6th grade elementary school students and their parents), they could experience the problem-solving process through programming-thinking: when a disaster strikes, what actions should be taken, and in what order, for everyone to survive?

Specifically, a 2m x 2m playmat depicting urban environments, such as roads, buildings, coastal areas, and high ground, was used to set up a hypothetical tsunami evacuation field. Each parent-child pair was asked to programming and move the "Sphero BOLT" Rolling Ball Robot in this field.

The programming experience allowed participants to explore how to interact with the various physical pieces set up on the field to solve problems, e.g., avoid the piece representing "obstacle" on the route; join the piece representing "vulnerable person in need of assistance" to evacuate together, etc.

In recent years, programming education has become mandatory in elementary and junior high schools in Japan, and there is a lot of attention to acquiring programming thinking and developing a curriculum that spans multiple fields.

With this Summer School Project as a starting point, I would like to continue to develop workshops on the theme of "Gensai Programming" (Disaster Risk Reduction Programming), and contribute to the programming education / STEM education initiatives.

I want to express gratitude to researchers of the Research Department and colleagues of the Management Department at DRI for their cooperation in implementing this project and everyone who participated in the event.

(translation pending) みんなで考え、備えよう！南海トラフ巨大地震への備え【ひとぼう夏休み防災未来学校2020】

ライブ配信で「ひとぼう夏休み防災未来学校」に出演します。テーマは南海トラフです。ご都合がよろしければ、是非ご視聴ください。ライブでのチャット、投票にご参加いただけたら嬉しいです。防災クロスロードゲームも行います！

詳細：https://hitobou.com/event/summer/each/v2020.html
動画：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTKQD_etnCc

(translation pending) マンションの「安否確認」【ひとぼう夏休み防災未来学校2020】

人と防災未来センターの「夏休み防災未来学校」に出演しました。テーマはマンションの安否確認です。よかったら参考にしてください。

詳細: https://hitobou.com/event/summer/each/r2020.html

動画：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqkmJDNkgFI

(translation pending) 「在宅避難」って何？災害への備え方を学ぼう！【ひとぼう夏休み防災未来学校2020】 人と防災未来センター 夏休み防災

人と防災未来センターの「夏休み防災未来学校」に出演しました。テーマは在宅避難です。よかったら参考にしてください。

詳細: http://hitobou.com/event/summer/each/q2020.html
動画：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s463re9KfXM

At the special exhibition "Reviewing the Disaster Situation Map by GIS" by Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial DRI | 人と防災未来センター震災25年特別展示「GISで見直す被災地図」にて

A special exhibition "Reviewing the Disaster Situation Map by GIS" is being held at the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial - Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (http://www.dri.ne.jp/en). There are two wide-scale printed maps and one interactive display-based map that show the damage situation for each building, affected by earthquake and/or subsequent fire outbreaks in low-rise-high-density residential areas, etc. The exhibition reinforces the magnitude of disaster that occurred 25 years ago.

阪神・淡路大震災記念・人と防災未来センターにて震災25年特別展示「GISで見直す被災地図」が行なわれています。建物単位での被災状況が分かるワイドスケケールな地図情報が展示されています。改めて被害の大きさを実感しました。詳細: http://www.dri.ne.jp/post-13658

Red = completely or severely destroyed, Orange = moderate damage, Yellow = minor damage, Green = external damage not visible, Purple = burnt or partially burnt, and White = data not yet verified

Apple Teacher Certificate Acquired

From Apple Teacher website:

Apple Teacher is a free professional learning program designed to support and celebrate educators using Apple products for teaching and learning. As an educator you can build skills on iPad and Mac that directly apply to activities with your students, earn recognition for the new things you learn, and be rewarded for the great work you do every day.

I recently went to one of Apple Stores in Kansai to evaluate third party devices that could be useful for my future research projects. I took the opportunity to participate in two Today at Apple sessions, "Design Lab: Drawing Treehouses Co⁠-⁠created with Foster + Partners" and "Art Lab for Teachers: Sketch Projects", through which I got to know the learning program above. Today I was able to complete the necessary tests to obtain the certification as “Apple Teacher”.