Disaster Research 400
January 21, 2004
Table of Contents
- A Slice of History to Commemorate our 400th DR
- National PERISHIP Awards
- New Cross-Cutting Funding Opportunity in Human and Social Dynamics
- New International Journal of Disaster Medicine
- A Reader Request
- Forest Service Implementing Healthy Forests Legislation
- Landslide Mapping Tool
- DHS Scholars and Fellows Program Applications
- Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards Shown on New USGS Maps
- A Busy Year for FEMA
- Undergraduate Scholarship
- International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters
- Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
- Some New Web Resources
- Conferences and Training
1) A Slice of History to Commemorate our 400th DR
Reprinted from the 200th edition in 1996 . . .
"The Disaster Research e-mail newsletter was created in January 1989 by Bruce Crawford, an enterprising young graduate student at the Disaster Research Center, at the University of Delaware. Bruce managed the newsletter in various experimental forms (moderated and unmoderated) until November of that year. However, like Dr. Frankenstein's creation, Bruce's wonderful innovation soon took on a life of its own, and Bruce found that graduate school and list management required 36hours/day of work - i.e., he had to give up one or the other. Hence, in November 1989 the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado assumed responsibility for DR, and we have been publishing this newsletter ever since.
In that time, we have seen the readership grow at an almost constant geometric rate of over 50%/year from about 100 individuals to almost 1,500, and we have watched as the Internet reached new corners of the globe and subscriptions rolled in from ever more exotic places.
However, in the end, the most rewarding part of this work has been meeting new, interesting, dedicated hazards managers of all stripes from around the world. It has been their work and contributions that not only have made DR a [hopefully] useful publication, but, more importantly, have gone a long way toward making their regions, countries, districts, and local communities safer places to live."
We're now up to almost 3,000 subscribers and look forward to many more years of publication! Keep sending us your queries, comments, perspectives, and information! Thanks to you all for your support thus far -
The Management
2) National PERISHIP Awards
The Hazards Center, in partnership with the National Science Foundation and the Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI), announces a dissertation fellowship program. Program participants will receive support to work in all aspects of natural and human-made hazards, risks, and disasters in all disciplines. The goal of the program is to foster the development of the next generation of interdisciplinary hazards scholars through wide-ranging contributions to the body of knowledge in hazards research.
Complete program information, including deadlines, eligibility, and application information, is available at http://thunder1.cudenver.edu/periship/index.html. Specific questions can be directed to Audre Hoffman, PERI, 11350 Random Hills Road, #210 Fairfax, VA 22030; (703) 352-1846; e-mail: ahoffman@riskinstitute.org.
3) New Cross-Cutting Funding Opportunity in Human and Social Dynamics
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a new program solicitation inviting proposals for its first full competition in the Human and Social Dynamics (HSD) priority area. Its aim is to foster breakthroughs in knowledge about human action and development as well as organizational, cultural, and societal adaptation and change in a comprehensive and multidisciplinary context across the sciences, engineering, and education. The FY 2004 competition will include three topical emphasis areas (agents of change; dynamics of human behavior; and decision making and risk) and three resource-related emphasis areas (spatial social science; modeling human and social dynamics; and instrumentation and data resource development). Support will be provided for research-focused, education-focused, infrastructure-focused, and exploratory projects.
Complete information about the mandatory letter of intent (due March 3, 2004) and proposal preparation and submission (due March 30, 2004) as well as descriptive information about the HSD priority area may be found at http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/hsd. For further information, contact Miriam Heller; (703) 292-7025; e-mail: mheller@nsf.gov; or Sally Kane; (703) 292-8700; email: skane@nsf.gov.
4) New International Journal of Disaster Medicine
The International Journal of Disaster Medicine is the first international journal devoted exclusively to the field of disaster medicine. Practitioners and researchers in health-care, academia, industry, and government around the world will find analyses, ideas, new application of knowledge, and discussions of topical issues to help enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of policies in disaster medicine. The journal will focus on the following themes: experiences from major accidents and disasters; vulnerability assessment and risk analyses; planning and preparedness; practical management and organization in major accident and disasters; and research within all fields of disaster medicine.
The journal is currently soliciting papers that encompass field reports from major accidents and disasters in all parts of the world, written in a standardized format to allow for comparison of experience and results; reviews and editorials on recent development and methodology within all fields of disaster medicine; original scientific papers on research, development and education; book reviews; short information on meetings and courses for a meeting calendar.
All submitted papers are reviewed by an international advisory board of well recognized experts within the field. Editorial-related questions may be directed to Sten Lennquist, Secretary General, International Society of Disaster Medicine and Traumatology, University Hospital, 581 85 Linkoping, Sweden. For general information about the journal, including submission guidelines and subscription information, visit http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/15031438.asp.
5) A Reader Request
Joe Scanlon and Erik Auf der Heide, from Carlton University and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, respectively, are working on a proposal to examine how hospitals deal with chemically contaminated victims. In reviewing the literature, we have come across three major incidents - Bari, Italy, in 1943, and Matsumoto and Tokyo, Japan in 1994 and 1995 (the Sarin gas incidents). In the medical literature, we have also found some accounts of smaller incidents, all in the United States or England.
We are anxious to know if anyone is familiar with case reports of other incidents or know of anything in the professional literature relevant to this. We are also anxious to make contact with anyone who might be doing similar research.
Please contact Joe Scanlon, Emergency Communications Research Unit, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, e-mail: jscanlon@ccs.carleton.ca with information or for more details.
6) Forest Service Implementing Healthy Forests Legislation
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued an interim final rule that establishes the sole process by which the public may seek administrative review and file objections to proposed hazardous fuel reduction projects authorized by the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003. The interim rule reflects the National Forest Service's effort to quickly implement the act, which was signed into law on December 4, 2003. The "pre-decisional administrative review process" outlined in the rule will assist federal land managers in reducing hazardous fuels in high priority areas at risk for wildfires. The Forest Service states that the process is intended to facilitate collaborative planning efforts with early and meaningful public participation during the project planning phase for hazardous fuel reduction projects, and provide the opportunity for the timely resolution of outstanding issues during the analysis phase and prior to a decision.
The rule, which appears in the January 9, 2004, Federal Register(Vol. 69, No. 6, pp. 1529-1537; http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr), became effective in January; however, the Forest Service is accepting public comments on the rule until April 8, 2004. Additional information about the Healthy Forests Initiative is available at http://www.fs.fed.us/projects/hfi/.
7) Landslide Mapping Tool
A German company called Geoka Institute for Geomorphologic Mapping is currently developing a mapping and analysis tool to reveal areas where natural hazards, mostly terrestrial mass movements, will happen if there is strong rainfall. The maps visualize potential risk areas and help to prevent or reduce potential damages.
The tool is based on the analysis and interpretation of the variables that determine the surface of the earth: slope and form. In an effort to field test and validate this technology, the Geoka company is looking for institutions, counties, or states interested in having specific areas analyzed. They are seeking ways to demonstrate that these maps will make a difference to hazard predictions. If you know of any people, agencies, or institutions that might be interested in participating in this study, contact David Din, Geoka, Technologie Zentrum Trier, Gottsbilstrasse 34A 54294 Trier, Germany; Tel; +352 26 352 999; e-mail: david.din@eurodin.net; http://www.geoka.com.
8) DHS Scholars and Fellows Program Applications
Applications are now available for the 2004-2005 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Scholars and Fellows Program. This program is intended to ensure a diverse and highly talented science and technology community to achieve DHS mission and objectives. The program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate and graduate students at accredited colleges and universities. Areas of study include: physical, biological, social and behavioral sciences, including science policy, engineering, mathematics, and computer science. Program information, requirements, application details and more are available at http://www.orau.gov/dhsed.
9)Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards Shown on New USGS Maps
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has posted new maps on the Internet showing basins with the greatest potential for producing mudslides as a result of the devastating October fires in Southern California. The maps show the probability for debris-flow (mudslide) activity and estimates of the peak discharge from drainage basins burned by the Old and Grand Prix Fires near San Bernardino and the Piru, Simi and Verdale Fires near Simi Valley and Fillmore.
The maps and analysis have been provided to county flood control districts and the California Office of Emergency Services. They are intended to provide decision makers, emergency responders, and county, state, and federal government agencies with additional tools to identify risk potential and develop mitigation strategies.
A similar debris flow mapping approach is near completion for basins at greatest risk from the Cedar and Paradise Fires outside of San Diego. These maps have been provided to government agencies and will be released to the public on the Internet after official review is completed.
Copies of the new maps can be obtained at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/ofr-03-475/ and http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/ofr-03-481/. For more information contact Stephanie Hanna, USGS Western Region; (206) 331-0335; e-mail: shanna@usgs.gov.
10) A Busy Year for FEMA
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reported that more than $1.69 billion in FEMA funds were expended in 2003 to help people and communities recover from a variety of natural disasters that included winter storms, floods, fires tornadoes, hurricanes, and tropical storms. According to FEMA data, the expenditures were in response to 56 major disasters and 19 emergencies declared by President Bush involving 37 states and the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Micronesia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, the agency authorized 48 fire management grants to help fight wildfires in 12 western states and Hawaii. Statistically, West Virginia led the nation in the need for federal aid, requiring four major disaster declarations, followed by three each for Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia.
11) Undergraduate Scholarship
The Association of Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) announces an undergraduate scholarship to be awarded to a senior level student during the 2004/2005 school year. Students must be enrolled in an accredited civil engineering program or in a related field (as determined by ASDSO) and must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in hydraulics, hydrology, a geotechnical field, or in a discipline related to the design, construction, or operation of dams.
Scholarship applications are due March 31, 2004. Complete information, including eligibility criteria, an on-line application, and the basis for selection can be found at http://www.damsafety.org. Applications must be sent to ASDSO, 450 Old Vine Street, Second Floor, Lexington KY 40507; (859) 247-5140; e-mail: info@damsafety.org.
12) International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters
The International Research Committee on Disasters (IRCD), publisher of the "International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters," is currently offering significant savings to individuals, libraries, and organizations on available back issues. IRCD is also offering additional reduced rates to students and readers in developing nations. Three issues are published per volume/year; back issues are available beginning with Volume 1 published in 1983 through Volume 20 published in 2002. Reduced prices are available through April 1, 2004.
More information about the journal can be found at http://www.usc.edu/schools/sppd/ijmed/. To order back issues, contact Brenda Phillips, IRCD, Jacksonville State University, 700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville AL 36265; (256) 782-8053; e-mail: Brenda@jsucc.jsu.edu.
13) 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.]
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Assistant Professor with Emphasis on Crisis, Emergency and/or Risk Management
The George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science, Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, is inviting applications for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level. The successful applicant will possess superior teaching potential, excellent communication skills, and a strong commitment to research and attracting external funding. Although not restricted to any specific discipline, applicants must have an earned doctorate in a related discipline and ideally possess teaching interests in engineering management, and/or crisis, emergency, or risk management. The position will be housed at the Institute of Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management. Information about the Institute can be found at http://www.gwu.edu/~icdrm/.
Review of applicants will begin on March 6, 2004, and continue until the position is filled. Send curriculum vitae, publication list, sample publications, and contact information with three references to Zoe Dansan, Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, The George Washington University, 1776 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052. Please contact John Harrald with additional questions at jharrald@gwu.edu.
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Dam Safety, Floodplain Management, and GIS Vacancies
The Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology at Cayuga Community College, Inc. (IAGT) is a nonprofit organization that specializes in the application of Geographic Information Technologies (GIT). The institute currently has a number of vacancies in its dam safety, floodplain modernization, and floodplain management programs, along with environmental engineering positions and GIS technician openings. IAGT is located in Albany, New York. For a complete list of vacancies visit http://www.iagt.org/hr/jobs.asp.
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Volunteer Positions Available
The New York Disaster Counseling Coalition (NYDCC) is seeking volunteer clinicians to serve as workshop leaders for its "Renewing Relationships" initiative. Funded by a special grant from the New York Times Company Foundation, NYDCC is providing a series of five weekends for NYPD and EMS personnel on the weekends of February 7 and 21, 2004, March 13 and 27, 2004, and April 17, 2004.
These workshops focus on strengthening relationships and building resiliency among first responders and is a chance for clinicians to pitch-in and help-out. For more information contact NYDCC, 250 West 57th Street, Suite 1212, New York, NY 10107; (212) 582-8208; e-mail: nydcc@nydcc.org; http://www.nydcc.org/Home/Home_temp.php.
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Visiting Instructors
The emergency management (EMGT) program, within the department of criminal justice at Western Carolina University, is seeking non-tenure track, part-time faculty at the rank of visiting instructor to teach courses within the EMGT degree program via distance learning. It is anticipated that the program will begin in August 2004. Candidates must possess a masters degree in emergency management or a closely related discipline and must also possess demonstrated work experience in the realm of emergency management. Prior teaching experience in higher education is strongly preferred, with experience in distance education a plus. Since the courses will be taught using Web-CT, there is no requirement for either instructors or students to be located on or near campus.
More information about the degree program is available at http://www.wcu.edu/aps/cj/CJ_courses_EM.htm. Review of applications will begin on February 1, 2004, and continue until the positions are filled. Applicants should submit a letter of interest, vita, copies of transcripts, and three letters of reference to: EMGT Search Committee, Department of Criminal Justice, Western Carolina University, Belk 416, Cullowhee, NC 28723; (828) 227-2172; e-mail: bdougherty@email.wcu.edu.
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Senior Advisor, Homeland Security and Intelligence
Miami-Dade County, Florida, is seeking a senior advisor in homeland security and intelligence. The incumbent will collect and disseminate intelligence information to county decision makers to share new security developments and ensure adherence to existing requirements. Responsibilities also include maintaining and sharing continuous domestic and international awareness; coordinating and monitoring homeland security operations; planning and coordinating internal and external preparedness efforts; developing logistic schemes and preparedness training, and conducting post event diagnostics; and conducting information assessments as well as monitoring threats to deter, detect, and prevent terrorist incidents.
The incumbent exercises considerable independent judgment and professional managerial knowledge in guiding activities and participates in formulating security policies. Direction is received from the county manager in coordination with the director of the Miami-Dade police, director of fire rescue, and the director of the office of emergency management. A bachelor's degree and a minimum of five to nine years of sworn, military, or related investigative experience is required. A top security clearance required by state and federal law is a continuing condition of employment.Applications are due January 30, 2004. Applicants must submit a copy of their resume including their social security number and a "resume submittal form" indicating requisition #4990008 and title of position to the Employee Relations Department, Personnel Services Division, Center for Employment Application, 140 West Flagler Street, Suite 105, Miami, Florida 33130; http://www.miamidade.gov/jobs.
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Senior Emergency Management Advisor
Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, is seeking a senior advisor on emergency management. The incumbent will design, implement, monitor, and improve emergency planning and business resumption activities across the Concordia community. Responsibilities include leading different departments involved in the emergency planning process, organizing and providing technical leadership to academic and service departments to develop and maintain department specific emergency plans and coordinate these efforts to strengthen the institutional planning process; working with different department personnel to coordinate the development of business continuity plans at all levels; overseeing the recruitment and training of volunteer fire monitors and emergency responders to ensure complete coverage on all shifts, and more. A complete job description is available at http://www.ccep.ca/concordia_en.html.
Applications are due by January 30, 2004. Resumes and cover letters must be sent to Concordia University, Human Resources and Employee Relations (Reference P4517), 1455 de Maisonneuve Boulevard West, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8 Canada; (514) 848-2844 e-mail: hr-employment@concordia.ca.
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Technical Assistance Associates
A list of current openings and their specific requirements can be found at http://www.community-research.com/careers.html, or contact Human Resources - Programs, CRA, 625 North Washington Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314; http://www.community-research.com.
14) 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.dmrg.org/news
A listing (from a Canadian perspective) of a collection of some of the year's disaster-related headlines compiled by a PhD student in political science at the University of Western Ontario.
http://www.csc.noaa.gov/rvat/
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)'s Coastal Services Center provides an on-line risk and vulnerability assessment tool (RVAT) to help identify people, property, and resources that are at risk of injury, damage, or loss from hazardous incidents or natural hazards. The site includes a community vulnerability assessment tool designed to help determine and prioritize the precautionary measures that can make a community more disaster-resistant.
http://www.fema.gov/preparedness/mutual_aid.shtm
This initiative, undertaken by FEMA, is designed to enhance the functionality of interstate and intrastate mutual aid agreements to assist emergency managers in acquiring those resources necessary to prepare for, respond to and recover from any emergency.
http://www.cbsnews.com/digitaldan/disaster/disasters.shtml
This site, maintained by Dan Dubno of CBS news, contains a very comprehensive list of hazards-related web sites.
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/disaster/default.htm
This web site from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights the agency's disaster efforts, including epidemiology, a series of publications on extreme weather, and other disaster-related activities.
http://www.munichre.com/default_e.asp
Munich Re has issued a press release that presents an interactive overview of its analysis of natural catastrophes of 2003. The year was marked by a series of severe natural hazard events and the number of fatalities far exceeded the long-term average.
15) 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.]
TIEMS International Workshop. Sponsor: The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS). Seoul, Korea: February 12-13, 2004. This workshop will focus on new technologies in disasters and crises, including information management and continuity of government. For more information contact Young-Jai Lee, BCP Forum 26, 3-ga, Pil-dong, Chung-gu, Seoul, Korea 100-715; tel: 82-2-2260-3297; e-mail: yjlee@dongguk.edu; http://www.tiems.org/.
Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Colorado Office of Emergency Management, and the Colorado Emergency Management Association. Broomfield, Colorado: February 24-25, 2004. Along with many topics of interest to emergency managers, this conference also includes a 6-part workshop on obtaining federal grants relating to hazards and disasters. Conference details are available from Kevin Houck, Colorado Water Conservation Board, c/o Colorado Office of Emergency Management, Governor's Conference on Emergency Management, 15075 South Golden Road, Golden Colorado 80401-3979; (303) 866-4805; e-mail: kevin.houck@state.co.us; http://www.dola.state.co.us/oem/AnnualConference/Conferencemain.htm.
Business Continuity: Creating Certainty in Uncertain Times. Sponsor: Wackenhut. Chicago, Illinois: February 26, 2004. This interactive breakfast seminar will address issues of business continuity planning. For more information, contact Joe Krol, Wackenhut, 2777 Finley Road, Suite 17, Downers Grove, IL 60515; (800) 275-8310.
2004 Annual Conference of the Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management (IAFSM). Tinley Park, Illinois: March 3-4, 2004. This conference offers the opportunity to combine continuing education with networking with other floodplain and stormwater professionals. Registration information can be obtained from Sally McConkey, Illinois State Water Survey, 153 Nanti Street, Park Forest, IL 60466; (217) 333-5482; e-mail: sally@uiuc.edu; http://www.illinoisfloods.org/conferences.html.
National Severe Weather Workshop 2004. Sponsors: National Weather Service, National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, the Oklahoma Emergency Managers Association, and the Central Oklahoma Chapters of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association. Norman, Oklahoma: March 4-6, 2004. This three-day workshop, "Partners Keeping the Public Warned and Informed," is designed to enhance partnerships among severe weather forecasters and researchers, emergency managers, broadcast meteorologists, businesses, storm spotters and other weather enthusiasts. Free storm spotter and radar training will be offered. Workshop details are available from Kit Wagner, PO Box 721165, Norman, OK 73070; (405) 579-0771; http://www.norman.noaa.gov/nsww2004.
Third Annual Family Assistance Foundation Symposium. Sponsor: Family Assistance Foundation. Atlanta, Georgia: March 9-10, 2004. Designed for a broad spectrum of airline, first-responder, mental health and other emergency personnel, this symposium will focus on important and relevant issues with regard to family assistance and disaster response. Registration information can be obtained from the Family Assistance Foundation, 1200 Abernathy Road, Suite 1700, Atlanta, GA 30328; (770) 551-8226; http://www.fafonline.org/.
Hands-On CAMEO Training. Sponsors: Harvard School of Public Health and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Boston, Massachusetts: March 22-24, 2004. A new, expanded, faster CAMEO (Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations) system is now available and this training will offer an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the new version. Registration information is available from the Harvard School of Public Health, Center for Continuing Professional Education, 677 Huntington Avenue, CCPE – Department A, Boston, MA 02115; (617) 384-8692; http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/ccpe/programs/CAMEO.shtml.
Homeland First Response 2nd Annual Conference. Sponsor: Cisco Systems, Homeland First Response Magazine, Oklahoma City National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, and the National Institute for Urban Search and Rescue. Raleigh, North Carolina: March 30-April 2, 2004. This conference will focus on how technology can bridge the gap between first responders, citizens, and government agencies. Conference information is available from Lisa Ryan, KGB Media, 679 Encinitas Boulevard, Suite 211, Encinitas, CA, 92024; (760) 632-8280 x206; e-mail: lryan@kgbmedia.net; http://www.kgbmedia.net/hfr2004/.
Shlemon Conference/Earth Fissures. Sponsors: Engineering Geology Foundation and the Association of Engineering Geologists. El Paso, Texas: April 1-3, 2004. This first annual conference will evaluate the present state of knowledge about earth fissures. For more information contact Bill Haneberg, c/o Association of Engineering Geologists and Engineering Geology Foundation, P.O. Box 460518, Denver, CO 80246; (206) 871-9359; e-mail: bill@haneberg.com; http://www.haneberg.com/fissure/.
Dam Safety and Rehabilitation. Sponsor: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Reno, Nevada: April 15-16, 2004. The objectives of this seminar are to identify the current status of existing dams in the US, to learn the basic fundamentals of performing a dam safety inspection, to learn how to perform a dam safety analysis, and to identify various rehabilitation practices. For more information contact ASCE continuing education, P.O. Box 79536, Baltimore MD 21279; (703) 295-6300; e-mail: conted@asce.org; http://www.asce.org.
XVth Global Warming International Conference and Exposition (GWXV). Sponsor: Global Warming International Center. San Francisco, California: April 20-22, 2004. This conference includes sessions on remote sensing and global surveillance, extreme event impacts, energy and transportation, agricultural and forestry resources management, sustainable environment and health for the 21st century, biodiversity, human health in a changing climate, international law and mitigation, state and local government response to climate-related disasters, and more. For more information contact GWXV Secretariat, PO Box 5275, Woodridge, IL 60517; (630) 910-1561; e-mail: Abstracts@globalwarming.net; http://www.globalwarming.net.
Dam Safety and Rehabilitation. Sponsor: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). St. Louis, Missouri: May 6-7, 2004. The objectives of this seminar are to identify the current status of existing dams in the US, to learn the basic fundamentals of performing a dam safety inspection, to learn how to perform a dam safety analysis, and to identify various rehabilitation practices. For more information contact ASCE continuing education, P.O. Box 79536, Baltimore, MD 21279; (703) 295-6300; e-mail: conted@asce.org; http://www.asce.org.
12th Annual Pennsylvania GIS Conference. Sponsor: Penn State University. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: May 11-12, 2004. This year's theme is "Building Our Spatial Future," and the conference will focus on emerging trends in GIS technology and software applications. For more information, contact Brady Stroh, Penn State Harrisburg, 777 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057; (717) 948-6428; e-mail: bms16@psu.edu; http://www.pagisconference.org.
TIEMS 2004 Annual Conference. Sponsor: The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS). Melbourne, Australia: May 18-21, 2004. Registration and agenda information is available from Norm Free, TIEMS, Shire of Yarra Ranges, P.O. Box 105 Lilydale, Victoria, Australia 314; tel: 61 03 9294 6703; e-mail: registration@tiems.org; http://www.tiems.org/.
The Challenges of Socioeconomic Research in Coastal Systems: Valuation, Analysis, and Policy Development. Sponsors: Center for Natural Resource Economics and Policy (CNREP) and the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: May 27-28, 2004. This conference will focus on opportunities and challenges of socioeconomic research in coastal systems, with an emphasis on economic valuation and its use in developing coastal zone management policy. More information is available from CNREP, c/o Richard F. Kazmierczak, Jr., Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, 101 Agricultural Administration Building, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-5604; e-mail: rkazmierczak@agcenter.lsu.edu; http://www.agecon.lsu.edu/cnrep/.
The 1st International CLIVAR (Climate Variability and Predictability) Science Conference. Sponsor: CLIVAR. Baltimore, Maryland: June 21-25, 2004. The international CLIVAR program, under the auspices of the World Climate Research Program (WCRP), focuses on describing and understanding variability and change of the physical climate system on time scales from months to centuries and beyond. This conference will focus on CLIVAR's successes and future challenges. These include consideration of the broader climate research environment and how best to contribute the knowledge, products, and information brought about by CLIVAR to those who could best use it in decision and policy making. Registration information and additional details may be obtained from the Conference Secretariat, UCAR/JOSS/PSO, 3300 Mitchell Lane, Room 1112, Boulder CO 80301; (303) 497-8667; http://www.clivar2004.org/.
Gender Equality and Disaster Risk Reduction Workshop. Sponsors: US Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, the US Department of Agriculture, the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the University of Hawaii, and members of the Gender and Disaster Network. Honolulu, Hawaii: August 10-12 2004. This will be an action-oriented meeting for women and men working toward gender equity in all dimensions of disaster risk and response. This international meeting of practitioners, policy makers, planners, academics, activists and community members will focus on practical and feasible strategies for gendering the risk reduction agenda. Information is available from Elaine Enarson, 33174 Bergen Mountain Road, Evergreen, CO 80439; (303) 670-1834; e-mail: genderdisaster@yahoo.com; http://www.ssri.hawaii.edu/research/GDWwebsite/index.html.
Dam Safety 2004. Sponsor: Association of Dam Safety Officials (ADSO). Phoenix, Arizona: September 26-29, 2004. This conference will focus on all aspects of dam safety from a wide variety of perspectives and professions. Abstracts are due by February 18, 2004, and must be either e-mailed to info@damsafety.org (with the subject line "2004 Annual Conference Abstract") or sent to ADSO, 450 Old Vine Street 2nd Floor, Lexington, KY 40507. Entry form, suggested topic information, and a conference brochure are available from ADSO at the address above; (859) 257-5140; e-mail: info@damsafety.org; http://www.damsafety.org/.
Mitigating Volcanic Crises: Practical Solutions for the 21st Century. Sponsor: University College, London. London, England: August 31-September 2, 2004. This three-day conference will address practical strategies for responding to volcanic crises. Sessions will combine scientific, social and management criteria to identify new methods for making short-term forecasts of eruptions and of types of volcanic hazards, communicating the hazard to non-specialists, and designing appropriate response plans, from defense measures to evacuation. Conference information is available from the Benfield Hazard Research Center, Department of Earth Sciences, UCL, 136 Gower Street (Lewis Building), London, WC1E 6BT UK; tel: +44 (0)20 7679 3449/3637 http://www.benfieldhrc.org/SiteRoot/activities/events/chris_2004.htm.