Sun. May 25, 2025 1:45 PM - 3:15 PM Exhibition Hall Special Setting (4) (Exhibition Hall 7&8, Makuhari Messe)

convener:Takashi Azuma(National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology), Shinichi Matsushima(Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University), Kazuo Tamura, Atsushi Urabe(Research Institute for Natural Hazards and Disaster Recovery, Niigata University), Chairperson:Takashi Azuma(National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology), Shinichi Matsushima(Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University)

The normally tranquil earth can, at any given moment, suddenly and drastically move due to earthquakes. Such large earthquakes are phenomena that occur somewhere on the globe every year. One of many roles of scientists is to contribute to make a safe and secure society by presenting the findings of their research, including the fact that there are still great deal of unrevealed aspects in science. Many researchers conduct awareness-raising activities alongside their research activities, but the society will not change by just scientific fact. In other words, it is important for Science to be persuasive and the society to be acceptable through communication.
On 17 January 1995, a major earthquake occurred just beneath a large city in the Kinki area where the general public at that time believed vaguely without any evidence that earthquakes will not occur. It was the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu Earthquake (Kobe Earthquake). The strong ground motions generated from inland active faults in and around Kobe and Awaji Island, revealed problems of not only seismic resistance of bridges and buildings, but also rescue operation just after the event, the livelihood of more than 300 thousand evacuees, the process of practice for recovery and rebuilding, so scientist of diverse fields have been tackling various issues over the past 30 years. In order to implement scientific findings, discussions crossing various fields of expertise are also necessary, as well as the communication with the general public for their understanding in science. This public session aims to review the progress in science, academia, technology and sociology (and medicine) since the Hyogo-ken Nanbu Earthquake and find better ways to build a safe and secure society.