This is the fourth and final post in our student reflection series on GSEP Off-Campus Project AY2024. In this piece, Cetin Mert Murat, a second-year GSEP student from Turkey, writes about the visit to the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) — an eye-opening experience that showed how science and technology play a key role in protecting people from natural disasters in Japan.
National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience(NIED)
“Science for Resilience” is the first slogan you encounter at the entrance of NIED, the National Institute of Earth Science and Disaster Prevention. But how exactly does science help in taking precautions against various disasters?
During our visit to NIED, we observed how this is being achieved. It is a research institute equipped with simulated environments to study disasters, which is the most effective way to deal with them. They use various technologies to simulate disasters such as floods, earthquakes, avalanches, and landslides. Thanks to these simulations, various scenarios can be prepared for different regions, allowing the implementation of the right methods for disaster prevention and response.
Given that Japan is a country prone to natural disasters, NIED showcases the advancements achieved over the years in combating these disasters. During this visit, I had the opportunity to learn about these developments firsthand.
Additionally, we had the chance to experience the earthquake simulator. My friends and senseis tried out simulations of earthquakes of various magnitudes and types. We also explored the evolution of seismographs, from the earliest models to the latest high-tech versions.
While Japan initially had only a small number of seismographs, there are now over 10,000 across the country. The fact that all tremors and earthquakes occurring in Japan can be monitored in real time within this facility, and that this data is used for the early earthquake warning system, demonstrates how dedicated the country is to disaster preparedness.
In conclusion, NIED showcases Japan’s ongoing efforts in combating natural disasters and how the country continues to advance in this field year after year.
