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Understanding Extreme Geohazards: The Science of the Disaster Risk Management Cycle

European Science Foundation Conference
November 28 to December 1, 2011, Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain

Welcoming Note, IGCP 585

Roger Urgeles, Project Lead, IGCP Project 585.

First of all, let me thank Hans-Peter and Stewart Marsh, and the funding organizations, the European Science Foundation, the COST office, and UNESCO for inviting me to the conference and also for joining the Program Committee.

I would like to give a few words on what is IGCP 585. I think we have already been presented brief what is it, but briefly, IGCP 585 is a project that is funded by UNESCO, so thanks again to UNESCO, and also by International Geological Science. It is a project that focuses on the geohazard from submarine landslides. And currently we network more than 100 scientists in this project. Also we network quite frequently between other large programs such as the Integrated Ocean Relief Program, IGCP, and the IPL, the International Program on Landslides. If you are interested in a bit more of details of the project, we have a website which is www.igcp585.org. So we have a little more data there if you want to know more details about the project. I will just say that the project is chaired by myself, David Mosher by the Geological Survey of Canada, and by Jason Chaytor of the United States Geological Survey, and Michael Strasser, of ETH, Zurich.

Afterwards, when we start doing the dinner, we have people from four continents in this conference. I think that tells quite a bit about the importance of the topic we are addressing in this conference, that is extreme geohazards. Extreme is a word that probably many understand in geoscience because earthquakes, eruptions, lake submarine landslides, all these events are things or processes that are very difficult things to control by humans and I think by dedicating a focus such as the one we are having in the conference, we will be better able to characterize the process, will be able to help mitigate the effects of these geohazards, and will probably help reduce a lot the risks of those geohazards.

I just want to say that IGCP, the participants of the IGCP 585, will be all ears to the outcome of this conference. And I look to increase cooperation with other IGCP projects and other initiatives within UNESCO or elsewhere.

I think that is all from my side. Thanks again.


Last edited 02 December 2016