Wednesday, November 20, 2024 – The Center for Disaster Studies of the Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM) at Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) delivered a public lecture at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, with the theme “Disaster Management: Global Learnings and Challenges.” The public lecture was attended by students and lecturers from various faculties, as well as disaster practitioners.

The event aimed to introduce the latest approaches in disaster management and share experiences on how Indonesia manages its frequent natural disasters, especially in regions prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.

Dr. Ilham Alimuddin, ST., M.GIS., Head of the UNHAS LPPM Center for Disaster Studies, served as the main speaker for the public lecture.

In his presentation, Dr. Ilham highlighted the importance of disaster mitigation, strengthening community capacity, and preparedness in facing disasters.

He also explained that Indonesia, as a country with a vast geographical span and high disaster vulnerability, possesses a wealth of experience that can be learned from by other countries, including Sri Lanka.

“International collaboration in disaster management is crucial for sharing knowledge, technology, and best strategies in disaster response. Through this public lecture, we hope to strengthen the relationship between universities and institutions in Indonesia and Sri Lanka in the field of disaster management,” stated Dr. Ilham.

In addition, the public lecture also featured an interactive discussion, where participants had the opportunity to ask questions directly to the speaker and share experiences related to disaster response in their respective countries. The University of Colombo students, most of whom are from environmental and disaster studies programs, showed high enthusiasm during the discussion session.

The event also opened opportunities for the development of collaborative research programs between Hasanuddin University and the University of Colombo, focusing on disaster management, mitigation, and preparedness.

This public lecture is part of UNHAS’s effort to strengthen its role and contribution at the global level in addressing disaster issues that are becoming increasingly urgent to resolve.