This conference aims to bring science and technology into the planning and implementation of disaster risk reduction measures. In order to come up with an effective comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach, there needs to be an interdisciplinary collaboration where expertise and pooled to maximize the utility of resources.
During the conference and while writing up the proceedings of the conference, what struck me most is the fragmentation of the scientific community. Each research group and organisation has their own research agendas and communication between different parties is minimal. This has led to a lot of duplication in research areas and research gaps in areas that are perhaps more difficult to work in. One of the biggest gaps in science and technology is the mapping of all researches that are being undertaken in order to fill in the gaps and improve efficiency of research. Partnerships can thus be formed to further improve the quality and breadth of research.
Hong Kong is a small city, and the main research institutes are mostly affiliated with a university system. Each research institute has its own networks and areas of expertise, hence a collaboration can perhaps make the most out of the pool of existing resources. For example, those that research on the disaster risks of vulnerable populations can collaborate with those that research in health service infrastructures to come up with health policy recommendations that can be comprehensive, needs-based and have a multi-hazards approach.
This sharing of research directions, which allows the transparency of research interests, allows for the mapping of areas that are research-rich where ideally partnerships can form, and most importantly, identify the gaps in research where there is a necessity.
The other important issue is the dissemination of knowledge to the public. There are an abundance of research topics in Hong Kong, yet most of these researches that are done for the community have not been effectively translated into laymen language for dissemination to a wider audience. With the sharing of resources brought on by partnerships, maybe there will be an increased capacity in translating research information to a more general public?
During the conference and while writing up the proceedings of the conference, what struck me most is the fragmentation of the scientific community. Each research group and organisation has their own research agendas and communication between different parties is minimal. This has led to a lot of duplication in research areas and research gaps in areas that are perhaps more difficult to work in. One of the biggest gaps in science and technology is the mapping of all researches that are being undertaken in order to fill in the gaps and improve efficiency of research. Partnerships can thus be formed to further improve the quality and breadth of research.
Hong Kong is a small city, and the main research institutes are mostly affiliated with a university system. Each research institute has its own networks and areas of expertise, hence a collaboration can perhaps make the most out of the pool of existing resources. For example, those that research on the disaster risks of vulnerable populations can collaborate with those that research in health service infrastructures to come up with health policy recommendations that can be comprehensive, needs-based and have a multi-hazards approach.
This sharing of research directions, which allows the transparency of research interests, allows for the mapping of areas that are research-rich where ideally partnerships can form, and most importantly, identify the gaps in research where there is a necessity.
The other important issue is the dissemination of knowledge to the public. There are an abundance of research topics in Hong Kong, yet most of these researches that are done for the community have not been effectively translated into laymen language for dissemination to a wider audience. With the sharing of resources brought on by partnerships, maybe there will be an increased capacity in translating research information to a more general public?
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