Disaster Research 399

December 30, 2003

Table of Contents

  1. Community Planning Fellowship Program
  2. ASPEP's Second Annual Student Contest and General Call for Papers
  3. NDSU Call For Papers on Emergency Management in Higher Education
  4. Call for Submissions
  5. Reviewers Wanted
  6. Hazards and GIS: Help Spread the Word!
  7. Jefferson Science Fellows at the U.S. Department of State
  8. Research Associateship Programs
  9. . . . Still More Fellowship Opportunities!
  10. Of Interest to DR Readers
  11. Opportunities at Resources for the Future
  12. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
  13. Some New Web Resources
  14. Conferences and Trainining

1) Community Planning Fellowship Program

In an effort to raise awareness and ensure that hazard mitigation is effectively incorporated into future urban and rural planning, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Community Planning Fellowship Program is expanding its role as an opportunity for graduate planning students to familiarize themselves with hazard mitigation as an aspect of planning. The Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is joining FEMA this year to support a total of three fellows who will study aspects of how communities, regional organizations, and states can effectively address watershed planning and floodplain management issues.

Applications are due February 17, 2004, and the fellowship will begin in the summer of 2004. Fellows will be based at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C. for approximately 9 weeks and will receive financial support for one year of related research. Complete eligibility and fellowship requirements, along with an application packet, are available at http://www.nibs.org/MMC/mmcactiv4.html.

Completed applications, supporting materials, and questions about the program should be send electronically or via mail to Claret Heider, National Institute of Building Sciences, Multihazard Mitigation Council, 1090 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005-4905; (202) 289-7800 ex. 131; e-mail: cheider@nibs.org.

2) ASPEP's Second Annual Student Contest and General Call for Papers

The American Society of Professional Emergency Planners (ASPEP) announces its second annual contest for students enrolled in college level emergency management programs either as students or interns. Papers will be judged based on their unique approach to topics, new research, and/or practical use for emergency management professionals. The top three papers will be published in the 2004 ASPEP Journal scheduled to be published in October 2004, and each published author will receive a cash prize and copy of the 2004 ASPEP Journal. Papers may be case studies, descriptions of original research results, or discussions of current emergency management topics. Authors are asked to provide an e-mail address of an academic contact to confirm the author is currently enrolled as a student or intern in an emergency management program at the college undergraduate or graduate level.

ASPEP is also issuing a general call for (non-contest) papers and articles for the 2004 journal. Submissions should contribute to the advancement of knowledge and improvement in the practice of emergency management.

Contest submissions are due May 10, 2004, and must be sent attention "ASPEP Writing Contest" to the address below. General journal submissions are due June 15, 2004. Papers should be between 8-15 pages, including charts, graphs, or pictures. E-mail submission is preferred; however, submissions can also be sent on a computer disk. To submit a paper or inquire about contest or journal guidelines, contact the ASPEP Journal 2004, c/o Bruce Binder, 8770 SW Goldstone Place, Beaverton, OR 97007; e-mail: bbinder@myexcel.com.

3) NDSU Call For Papers on Emergency Management in Higher Education

The Institute for Regional Studies at the North Dakota State University (NDSU) is seeking paper submissions for its "Emergency Management and Disaster Studies" monograph series. The first issue will focus on conceptual, theoretical and/or position papers on emergency management in higher education.

The submission deadline is March 31, 2004. Papers will be peer reviewed, should not exceed 4000 words (including abstract and bibliography), and should follow the style guidelines of the American Anthropological Association. For more information, contact Arthur Oyola-Yemaiel, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, North Dakota State University, Minard Hall 404A, Fargo, ND 58105; (701) 231-5847; e-mail: arthur.oyolayemaiel@ndsu.nodak.edu.

4) Call for Submissions

The "International Journal of Critical Infrastructures" (IJCIS) is calling for submissions of papers from a wide variety of disciplines that address topics such as the analysis and modeling of interdependencies between critical infrastructures, the direct and indirect societal cost assessment of cascading failures across regions and over time, evaluation of the impact of governance and policies on the vulnerability of critical infrastructures, and more. IJCIS is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal that provides cross fertilization of ideas among different disciplines. Journal details and submission information are available at http://www.inderscience.com/catindex.html.

You may contact IJCIS directly through the IEL Editorial Office, P.O. Box 735, Olney, Bucks, MK46 5WB, UK; e-mail: ijcis@inderscience.com.

5) Reviewers Wanted

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Higher Education Project is seeking volunteer reviewers (i.e. no honorarium can be provided) for a draft of a course titled "New Directions in Hazard Mitigation - Breaking The Disaster Cycle," an approximately 260-page instructor guide that has been developed as a classroom-based graduate seminar.

The course is an opportunity for students to analyze U.S. disaster policy and think critically about ways to break the disaster cycle in which repetitive damage occurs from repeated disasters. It stresses the concept of hazard mitigation, in which state and local governments take action before disaster events to reduce their impacts. The course is designed to enhance students' knowledge and understanding about hazard mitigation policy and practice, and enable them to relate hazard mitigation to sustainable development and smart growth initiatives.

For those willing to commit to review and comment upon this draft, 30 days will be provided after receipt of a priority-mailed CD ROM to review and return comments. Reviewers should familiarize themselves with other FEMA courses at http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/edu/completeCourses.aspprior to agreeing to review this course. It is requested that no one seek a review copy for information purposes only as within a few months a final version of this course will be uploaded to the FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education web-site at http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/edu and will be available for downloading free of charge.

For more details, contact Wayne Blanchard, Higher Education Project, Emergency Management Institute, Federal Emergency Management Agency Department of Homeland Security, e-mail: wayne.blanchard@dhs.gov.

6) Hazards and GIS: Help Spread the Word!

During the 2003 Natural Hazards Workshop held in Boulder, Colorado, this past summer, a group of 50 participants met to discuss common interests in hazards applications of geographic information systems/sciences (GIS). Acting on a recommendation from the group, a new web site has recently been launched to encourage sharing of information about how the hazards community is using GIS for hazards-related activities and to provide useful and easily accessible resources for everyone. The web site can be found at http://hazards.lsu.edu.

The site is active, and the managers have issued a general call to all those who are interested in GIS and hazards, encouraging them to link to the web page and provide suggestions, pertinent links, comments, or anything else they consider useful. There are countless potential cosponsors and participants for this effort from the various public, private, and nonprofit agencies and organizations currently working with hazards and GIS.

Specifically, site organizers are looking for the following input: information on any available GIS resources for hazards-related data, hazards research that is using GIS, and any other general suggestions. Please contact either Lavanya Gandluru, lgand1@lsu.edu; or John C. Pine, Department of Environmental Studies, 42 Atkinson Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803; (225) 578-1075; e-mail: jpine@lsu.edu; http://hazards.lsu.edu.

7) Jefferson Science Fellows at the U.S. Department of State

The contribution of science, technology, and engineering to the formulation and implementation of U.S. government domestic and foreign policy has long been recognized as a critical element in good governance. Without an accurate, timely understanding of rapidly advancing science and technology issues, it is increasingly difficult to identify and establish sound governmental policy that meet the needs of modern societies.

In recognition of this, the Secretary of State recently announced the "Jefferson Science Fellows" (JSF) program at the U.S. Department of State to establish a new model for engaging the American academic science, technology, and engineering communities in the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. The three-year pilot JSF program is administered by the National Academies, philanthropic foundations, and the U.S. Department of State.

Tenured academic scientists and engineers from U.S. institutions of higher learning are eligible to apply. Fellows spend one year at the U.S. Department of State for an on-site assignment in Washington, D.C., that may also involve extended stays at U.S. foreign embassies and/or missions.

Nomination packets must be received by January 28, 2004. Complete fellowship information, including detailed guidelines, eligibility requirements, and placement/research specifics, is available from Jefferson Science Fellows Program, The National Academies, Fellowships Office, 500 Fifth Street NW, GR 322A, Washington, DC 20001; (202) 334-2872; e-mail: jsf@nas.edu; http://www7.nationalacademies.org/fellowships/Jefferson_Science_Fellows.html.

8) Research Associateship Programs

The National Academies administers postdoctoral and senior research awards through its associateship programs, which are part of the Policy and Global Affairs Division. The "Research Associateship Programs" (RAP) are sponsored by federal laboratories and NASA Research Centers at over one hundred locations in the U.S. and overseas.

Awards are made to doctoral level scientists and engineers who can apply their special knowledge and research talents to research areas that are of interest to them and to the host laboratories and centers. These awards may include hazards-related research. Each recipient works in collaboration with a research adviser, who is a staff member of a federal laboratory. In addition to these traditional awards, RAP offers summer faculty awards, combined teaching and research awards, opportunities in the NASA Astrobiology Institute, and international opportunities at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Naval Medical Research Center overseas laboratories.

Application packets are due February 1, 2004. Extensive RAP descriptions, eligibility requirements, and Internet links to participating programs and agencies can be obtained by contacting RAP, Keck Center of the National Academies, 500 Fifth Street, NW, GR 322A, Washington, DC 20001; (202) 334-2760; e-mail: rap@nas.edu; http://www4.nationalacademies.org/pga/rap.nsf.

9) . . . Still More Fellowship Opportunities!

Scientists and engineers are invited to apply for one-year science and technology policy fellowships in Washington, D.C., beginning September 2004. Fellowships, administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), are designed to provide participants with a unique public policy learning experience and to bring technical backgrounds and external perspectives to decision-making in the U.S. government.

Fellows serve in the Congress, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the Agency for International Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, or other agency offices.

Applications are due January 10, 2004, and applicants must have a doctoral degree by that time in physical, biological, or social science, or any engineering or relevant interdisciplinary field. Individuals with a master's degree in engineering and at least three years of post-degree professional experience may apply.

General information, application specifics, and eligibility requirements can be obtained from the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Programs, 1200 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 326-6700; e-mail: fellowships@aaas.org; http://www.fellowships.aaas.org.

10) Of Interest to DR Readers

An Operational Framework for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction, a new working paper by Tom Mitchell, introduces an operational disaster risk reduction (DRR) mainstreaming framework for application at a national level. Disaster risk reduction frameworks must be flexible enough to be modified through a participatory process and have locally derived benchmarks.

Both the framework and the participatory process will help to generate political will and a sense of ownership, which are seen as vital to achieving disaster risk reduction gains. This paper places the framework in the context of other similar initiatives and discusses disaster risk reduction as a precursor to formulating a framework.

"An Operational Framework for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction," can be downloaded from the Benfield Hazard Research Centre website http://www.benfieldhrc.org/SiteRoot/disaster_studies/working_papers/workingpaper8.pdf.

11) Opportunities at Resources for the Future

Resources for the Future (RFF), a nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to analyzing environmental, energy, and natural resource topics, gathers under one roof a community of scholars conducting impartial research to enable policymakers to make sound choices. RFF offers a variety of professional internships and academic fellowships and internships, including one, the Gilbert F. White Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, that is especially noteworthy here at the Hazards Center.

Academic programs at RFF promote research and policy analysis by supporting work at colleges, universities, and other institutions, both in the U.S. and elsewhere, and by bringing researchers to RFF to contribute to projects underway and the formulation of new lines of inquiry. The eligibility, duration, and stipend information for these fellowships can be found at RFF, 1616 P Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 328-5000; http://www.rff.org/rff/About/Fellowships_and_Internships/Index.cfm.

12) Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

[Below are a few recent job vacancies that are related to some of the myriad activities in which DR readers engage. Please contact the organizations directly for more information.]

_________________________________
Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Assistant Professor Vacancy

The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Purdue University seeks a broadly educated geologist/geophysicist who conducts research in the analysis of earthquakes and active crustal deformation. Individuals who apply modern quantitative techniques in earthquake geology or seismology, or space geodesy (including InSAR) and combine them with physical models of active deformation and earthquake processes are particularly encouraged to apply.

Candidates are expected to have completed a Ph.D. by the time of appointment. This appointment will be an assistant professor tenure-track position to begin in August 2004. The appointee is expected to teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Screening of applications will begin on January 15, 2004, and the search will continue until the position is filled. To apply, send resume, research and teaching statements, and names and contact information for at least 3 references, to: Chair of the Active Tectonics Search Committee, Purdue University, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, West Lafayette, IN 47907;(765) 496-2915; e-mail: ecalais@purdue.edu.

_________________________________
Rapid Environmental Assessment for Disasters

CARE is searching for a consultant to conduct a desk-based evaluation of a project to develop a Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) in disasters methodology.

REA methodology is intended to equip emergency managers with a rapid means of identifying threats to the environment due either to the disaster itself or the resulting relief operation. Applicable to natural, technological or complex political disasters, REA is a tool to identify, define, characterize and prioritize potential environmental impacts in disaster situations by means of a simple qualitative assessment process using brief concise descriptions, rating tables and check lists to identify and rank environmental issues and promote appropriate interventions.

This consultancy is planned to take place during three weeks in January 2004. The evaluation will be primarily desk-based, relying on document review and telephone interviews with key informants. Preference will be given to candidates with previous experience in evaluating post-disaster humanitarian assistance programs, the international nongovernmental sector, and who are able to demonstrate a knowledge of environmental issues faced during and after disasters.

Interested candidates should send a resume, fee rates, and a cover letter to Jock Baker, CARE; e-mail: jbaker@care.org. General questions may be directed to him as well.

_________________________________
Emergency Response Specialist (I and II)

Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Florida, is looking to fill two emergency response specialist vacancies. Primary teaching duties include graduate and undergraduate level courses in emergency management and non-teaching duties include curriculum and program development, advisement, professional development activities, and grant writing. The emergency management programs are delivered on-line.

A doctorate in an appropriate area, with experience in the area of emergency management, is preferred. To apply, send resume, transcript copy, and contact information for three references to Jacksonville State University, Human Resources, 700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, Alabama 36265; http://www.jsu.edu/depart/hr/jobs.html#30.

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Emergency Management Agency Director

The Washington D.C. Emergency Management Agency (DCEMA) is seeking a director. DCEMA's mission is to protect the lives and property of District residents and visitors during major emergencies and disasters of all types through effective planning and timely operational response. The director is a member of the Mayor's Cabinet and works under the general direction of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice. Position responsibilities include assuring the District of Columbia's readiness and operational capability to respond to and recover from local emergencies, natural or human-made disasters, or national emergency situations; maintaining the executive command and communication center and the emergency operations center; coordinating special events; coordinating the local response to snow emergencies; and maintaining and disseminating information on the storage and transportation of hazardous chemicals in the city.

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. Six years of public safety experience is desired, with at least three years in emergency management, and the incumbent should have extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations, criteria, and standards for dealing with emergency response, Homeland Security and general safety issues. Qualified applicants will have proven senior leadership experience.

Applications are due February 13, 2004. Applicants should submit a letter of interest and resume, specifically addressing the applicant's experience in the areas listed above to Kenyatta L. Uzzell, Office of the Director, DC Office of Personnel, 441 4th Street NW, Suite 300S, Washington, DC 20001; e-mail: Kenyatta.Uzzell@dc.gov.

_________________________________
International Research Institute for Climate Protection (IRI)

IRI, a research institute affiliated with Columbia University, has a number of position openings. IRI's mission is to enhance society's capability to understand, anticipate, and manage the impacts of seasonal climate fluctuations in order to improve human welfare and the environment, especially in developing countries. The position vacancies and their requirements are available at http://iri.columbia.edu/aboutiri/job/.

13) Some New Web Resources

[Below are some new or updated Internet resources we've discovered. For an extensive list of useful Internet sites dealing with hazards, see http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/sites/sites.html]

http://www.earthscope.org
EarthScope is a new initiative sponsored by the National Science Foundation to launch observatory systems to monitor the physical elements of earth. EarthScope includes the following components: USArray (U.S. Seismic Array), SAFOD (San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth), PBO (Plate Boundary Observatory), InSAR (Interferometic Synthetic Aperature Radar), and is a partnership between these organizations, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Energy and many universities, seismic networks, and states.

http://www.data.scec.org
The Southern California Earthquake Data Center (SCEDC), the primary archive of earthquake data for southern California is the central resource of the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC). SCEDC announces an updated and revised web site.

http://www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is317.asp
The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently unveiled an on-line, independent study course that can serve as either an introduction to those joining Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) or as a refresher for current volunteer team members.

http://www.capostfirefloods.net/
FEMA has developed post-fire advisory flood hazard maps that show the current, increased flood hazard created by the wildfires. The maps are intended to provide a general understanding of the approximate, increased flood risk for the five counties studied. They do not replace the current Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for determining the flood insurance premium corresponding to a particular location.

http://www.unisdr.org/
The web site of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction has been recently revised and many new features have been added.

http://www.adpc.net/pdr-sea/mp/echoes-nov2003.html
The Partnership for Disaster Reduction-Southeast Asia (PDR-SEA) Team of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) has launched an on-line monthly newsletter,"Echoes," that contains articles, resources, and information relevant to the community of disaster management practitioners in Southeast Asia.

14) Conferences and Training

[Below are some recent announcements received by the Natural Hazards Center. A comprehensive list of upcoming hazards-related meetings and training is available from our web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/conf.html.]

MCEER 2004 Annual Meeting. Sponsor: Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER). Los Angeles, California: January 15-16, 2004. This annual gathering of MCEER industry partners, students and researchers is convened to review the past year's progress and the next year's promise for MCEER's research, education and outreach programs. Registration information and conference details are avaiable from MCEER, State University of New York at Buffalo, c/o Science and Engineering Library, 304 Capon Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260; (716) 645-3377; e-mail: mceeris@buffalo.edu; http://mceer.buffalo.edu/meetings/2004AnnualMeeting/default.asp.

Mass Fatalities Regional Incident Response Training. Sponsor: National Mass Fatalities Institute (NMFI). San Diego, California: January 26-30, 2004. This is a comprehensive education and training for mass fatalities incident response planning. The goal of the course is to prepare community leaders, emergency planners, and responders of all disaster-related professions to effectively plan for response to and recovery from a mass fatalities incident. Training specifics are available from NMFI,6301 Kirkwood Boulevard SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404; (319) 398-7122 or (866) 623-6634; e-mail: nmfi@kirkwood.edu; http://www.nmfi.org/course.htm.

Firehouse World Conference and Exposition. Sponsors: Firehouse Magazine, and the Cygnus Media Group. San Diego, California: February 1-5, 2004. This conference covers a wide variety of fire-related and emergency response topics, including hands-on training opportunities, and a special focus on the recent California wildfires. Registration information can be obtained from Firehouse World Conference and Exposition, 801 Cliff Road East, Suite 201, Burnsville, MN 55337; (800) 827-8009; http://firehouseworld.com/fhw/index.po.

Engineering for Extreme Winds: 2004 Short Course. Sponsor: The Wind Science and Engineering Research Center and Extended Studies at Texas Tech University. Lubbock, Texas: February 4-6, 2004. This short course is designed for engineers, building officials, architects, and other professionals who are involved with the design of buildings to resist extreme wind events including tornadoes and hurricanes. It is also beneficial to those involved with the interpretation of wind load standards and codes. Course details may be obtained from the Extended Studies Department, Attention: PDCO, Texas Tech University, Box 42191, Lubbock, TX 79409; (806) 742-7202 ext. 270; e-mail: ppdenroll.oes@ttu.edu; http://www.dce.ttu.edu/profdev.

Annual Meeting, Workshop, and Interoperability Training Session. Sponsor: Disaster Resource Center (DERA). Orlando, Florida: February 6-7, 2004. This two-day meeting is scheduled in conjunction with the International Disaster Management Conference(http://www.FEMF.org). Information can be found at DERA, P.O. Box 797, Longmont, CO 80502; e-mail: dera@disasters.org; http://www.disasters.org.

Disaster Recovery Planning: Insuring Business Continuity. Sponsor: American Management Association International. Atlanta, Georgia: March 1-3, 2004; New York, New York: April 21-23, 2004; Las Vegas, Nevada: May 17-19, 2004. These workshops are participant-oriented and will provide the knowledge and tools to develop a comprehensive program to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from both large and small disasters. Topics include step-by-step project plans; methodologies for identifying and analyzing threats; processes for identifying essential business functions; how to develop and conduct a training and testing program; and how to plan for continued communication with stakeholders. Workshop details can be obtained from the American Management Association International, 1601 Broadway New York, NY 10019; (212)586-8100; e-mail: customerservice@amanet.org; http://www.amanet.org/index2.htm.

International Conference on Managing Seismic Risk in Developing Countries. Sponsors: Disaster Management Institute (DMI), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, and the Department of Science and Technology of Madhya Pradesh. Bhopal, India: March 17-19, 2004. This conference will provide a platform for practitioners, administrators, and disaster management professionals to review and evaluate recent developments in contemporary technology and experiences in earthquake disaster management, as relevant to developing countries, to enhance efforts at combating such disasters effectively. Registration information and conference details can be obtained by contacting Arun Kumar Singh Parmar, DMI, Government of Madhya Pradesh Prayavaran Parisar ,E-5 Arera Colony, Bhopal 462016, M.P. India; e-mail: msrdc2004@dmibpl.org; http://www.dmibpl.org/int-conf.htm.

4th International Symposium on Aviation Emergencies: Managing Credible Threats. Weehawken, New Jersey: March 29-April 1, 2004. Sponsor: Emergency and Disaster Management, Inc. This symposium will focus on aviation terrorism and security, preparedness for and response to airplane accidents and emergencies, emergency medical and public health issues, and crisis and consequence management. Complete details can be obtained from Gunnar Kuepper, c/o Emergency and Disaster Mangement, Inc., Airport Center, 5959 West Century Boulevard, Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045; (310) 649-0700; e-mail: symposium@edmus.info; http://www.edmus.info.

Mass Fatalities Regional Incident Response Training. Sponsor: National Mass Fatalities Institute (NMFI). Atlanta, Georgia: March 29-April 2, 2004. This is a comprehensive education and training for mass fatalities incident response planning. The goal of the course is to prepare community leaders, emergency planners, and responders of all disaster-related professions to effectively plan for response to and recovery from a mass fatalities incident. Training specifics are available from NMFI,6301 Kirkwood Boulevard SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404; (319) 398-7122 or (866) 623-6634; e-mail: nmfi@kirkwood.edu; http://www.nmfi.org/course.htm.

International Workshop on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (ISCRAM2004). Brussels, Netherlands: May 3-4, 2004. Sponsor: Tilburg University and the Belgian Nuclear Research Center SCK-CEN. This workshop will focus on planning for crisis response, including organizing training exercises; responding to a crisis situation; and evaluating performance during and after crises. The sponsors welcome the active participation of policy makers involved in crisis response and management at the local, regional, national, and international level. For more information contact Bartel Van de Waal, Department of Information Systems and Management, Faculty of Economics, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 Le Tilberg, The Netherlands; e-mail: bartel@uvt.nl; http://www.tilburguniversity.nl/faculties/few/iscram2004.

Disaster-Resistant California. Sponsor: the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES). Sacramento, California: May 3-5, 2004. With the goal of exploring disaster mitigation, planning, preparedness, response and recovery, this conference is designed to bring together emergency management professionals, local and state government representatives and private business partners to share ideas, technology and resources for the purpose of mitigating disasters. For more information, contact Victoria LaMar-Haas, CA OES, P.O. Box 419023, Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9023; (916) 845-8531; e-mail: victoria.la.mar-haas@oes.ca.gov; http://www2.sjsu.edu/cdm/drc04/index.html.

Rocky Mountain Regional Lake and Reservoir Management Conference. Sponsors: Colorado Lake and Reservoir Management Association (CLRMA), the South Dakota Lakes and Streams Association, and the North American Lake Management Society. Denver, Colorado: May 12-14, 2004. The semi-arid Rocky Mountain region has long valued fresh water, and the recent drought has made the issue more acute. Conference topics include drought and wildfires, forest thinning, water diversions, water supply security, education and outreach, and much more. Conference details, including paper submission guidelines, are available from Sharon Campbell, c/o CLRMA P.O. Box 350144, Westminster, CO 80035; (970) 226-9331; e-mail: sharon_g_campbell@usgs.gov; http://www.nalms.org/symposia/rockymountain/index.htm.

Third UCLA Conference on Public Health and Disasters. Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles. Torrance, California: May 16-19, 2004. This conference is specifically designed for health-related professionals, as well as individuals and organizations involved in emergency disaster preparedness and response from both the public and private sectors. Conference topics will be relevant to emergency medical services, medical and public health practitioners, researchers, and managers involved in public health issues resulting from natural and human-generated disasters. Conference details are available from the UCLA Center for Public Health and Disasters, 1145 Gayley Avenue, Suite 304,Los Angeles, CA 90024; (310) 794-0864; e-mail: cphdr@ucla.edu; http://www.cphd.ucla.edu/conf2004.html.

Joint Specialty Conference on Probabilistic Mechanics and Structural Reliability. Sponsors: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI), and the Geo-Institute. Albuquerque, New Mexico: July 26-28, 2004. Probabilistic mechanics and reliability analysis are valuable and powerful tools in many engineering disciplines. As uncertainties in design parameters and behaviors are increasingly considered in the design of engineering systems, both applied and basic research in the area of stochastic mechanics will continue to grow. This conference will bring together researchers and scientists from around the world. Engineers, researchers, and scientists involved in reliability of structural, mechanical, marine, aerospace, geotechnical, and environmental systems are invited to participate. Conference details are available from Steve Wojtkiewicz, Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 5800, MS0847, Albuquerque, NM 87185;(505) 284-5482; e-mail: sfwojtk@sandia.gov; http://www.esc.sandia.gov/PMCconferenceinfo.html.

32nd International Geological Congress. Sponsors: International Union of Geological Sciences and the member countries of the Mediterranean Consortium. Florence, Italy: August 20-28, 2004. This congress will have a special focus on geological processes as they impact natural and human-made hazards, along with an overall emphasis on the links among geological sciences and society, human rights, and sustainability. Abstracts are due January 28, 2004. Complete congress information can be obtained from Chiara Manetti, Borgo Albizi, 28 - 50121 Firenze, Italy; tel: +39 055 2382146; e-mail: casaitalia@geo.unifi.it; http://www.32igc.org/home.htm.

Flood Risk Assessments. Sponsor: Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. University of Bath, UK: September 7-8, 2004. Recent flooding events such as occurred in April 2000 and subsequently in many European countries, have heightened the general public awareness of the limitations of existing flood defense infrastructures. This conference will provide a forum for engineers, mathematicians, and statisticians to exchange views on new developments in mathematical and statistical techniques applicable for assessing flood risk. Abstract submissions are due January 31, 2004, and should be electronically submitted to conferences@ima.org.uk. Paper submissions may be sent to Lucy Nye, The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, Catherine Richards House, 16 Nelson Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1EF UK; tel: +44 1702 354020; http://www.ima.org.uk/mathematics/flood.htm.

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