MW2C@UKM | Training Workshop on Disaster Resilient Cities: Advances in Meteorological Forecasting and Hazards Assessment

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Malaysia Window to Cambridge at UKM (MW2C@UKM)

Training Workshop on Disaster Resilient Cities:

Advances in Meteorological Forecasting and Hazards Assessment

28-29 June 2018, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1. OVERVIEW

The Malaysia Window to Cambridge at Univerisiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (MW2C@UKM) is convening a Training Workshop on Disaster Resilient Cities: Advances in Meteorological Forecasting and Hazards Assessment on 28-29 June 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The training will draw on findings of the pilot on Disaster Resilient Cities: Forecasting Local Level Climate Extremes and Physical Hazards for Kuala Lumpur, supported by the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund, led by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Southeast Asia Disaster Prevention Research Initiative (SEADPRI-UKM) and University of Cambridge in collaboration with other partners. The two-day training will cover presentations on forecasting extreme weather events and hazards assessment in the tropics as well as development of case studies from the region. Key speakers include Prof. Lord Julian Hunt from University of Cambridge, with world-class expertise in urban air quality modelling and Professor Johnny Chan from City University of Hong Kong, a prominent scientist on typhoons and monsoons.

2. OBJECTIVE

The training is designed to build the capacity of scientists from Malaysia and the region on forecasting extreme weather events and hazards assessment. The focus is on discussing the range of approaches for developing highly relevant forecasting products. A key feature will be on development of case studies on disaster risk reduction from the region. Trainees will be required to develop and submit case studies on topics relevant to extreme weather events and hazards assessment, which will be reviewed and disseminated in the region.

3. APPLICATION FOR SPONSORSHIP (CLOSED) 

Applications are invited on a competitive basis for full sponsorship to attend the training in Malaysia. The eligibility of applicants is as follows:-

Requirement:

  1. AGE: Below the age of 30
  2. CITIZENSHIP: Citizen of a Commonwealth country in Asia or an ASEAN Member State
  3. EXPERIENCE: Working with a meteorological, hydrological or geoscience-related institution OR currently undertaking research at the doctoral or post-doctoral level
  4. TRAVEL: Able to make advance payment for air-fare and be reimbursed after the event
  5. SHORT ESSAY: Submission of Case Studies on DRR (See Section 4 on Guidelines for Case Studies)

Deadlines (Closed)

  • Submission of completed (i) Application Form, and (ii) Short Essay : 1st May 2018
  • Notification to applicant: 15th May 2018

Please email the completed Application Forms to: chounsian@gmail.com and cc to  syazwaniyhy@gmail.com

For further information, please contact: Dr. Lim Choun Sian [Email: chounsian@gmail.com]

4. GUIDELINES FOR CASE STUDIES

Each case study requires the following:

  1. A suggested Title;
  2. Six to eight concise bullet points noting the key points which need to be included in the case study;
  3. Approximately 1000 words of clear explanatory text covering all of the key points;
  4. Four to six illustrations with concise captions;
  5. Name(s) of the case study author(s) and their affiliation(s) – with logos and contact details (email);
  6. Details of any acknowledgements which need to be noted.

Each author should, first of all, think carefully about what the ‘KEY POINTS’ are, for their particular piece of work, and then set these out as a handful of concise bullet points.  The following headings are suggested for guidance, but not all may be relevant to each case:

  • Where was the project located and what problem was being investigated? (e.g. the nature of the geohazard/ climatic hazard, both in geological/geomorphological/climatological terms and in terms of its impacts on people);
  • What are the most relevant geological, topographic and climatic conditions in the area affected? (e.g. prolonged heavy rainfall on steep slopes with deeply-weathered tropical soils);
  • What, if anything, had been tried before to deal with the situation? (e.g. engineering design, publicity, planning policies etc.);
  • What kind of solution is now being sought? (e.g. early warning system, publicity to raise general awareness, engineering solution, forward planning to avoid development in hazardous areas, development control to ensure buildings are safe, etc.);
  • If applicable, what new work has been or is being carried out in order to understand or predict the hazard? (e.g. ground investigations, monitoring of instrumentation, monitoring of events, statistical analysis of existing data to develop correlations, modelling of cause and effect, etc.);
  • What has been, or is likely to be, the outcome of this work? (e.g. reduced magnitude or frequency/likelihood of the hazard itself; or reduced vulnerability to the hazard, such as by improved avoidance, improved awareness, or improved resilience);
  • What lessons can be learned from this work and how widely are those lessons likely to be applicable? (e.g. other countries with similar climate, or terrain, or soils, or land use, including scale of urban or rural development, etc.);
  • What key aspects of communication have been / will be important in finding and implementing the solution? (e.g. liaison between geo-professionals, liaison with other professionals (scientists, planners etc.), communication with the general public).

Download slide presentations here.