Visit of SUT scientists to University Sains Malaysia
In January, scientists from the Silesian University of Technology stayed in Malaysia at the University Sains Malaysia. The visit took place as part of the Erasmus+ project "Geomatics for Disaster Risk Reduction" (GeoDRR, Geomatics in Reducing the Risk of Occurrence and Consequences of Natural Disasters). The Silesian University of Technology is the leader of this project. As part of the project, six Asian universities will create a course to train specialists in forecasting, monitoring and analysing natural disasters.
The Erasmus+ project "Geomatics for Disaster Risk Reduction" has been implemented since 2021.
Ten partners participate in it: 6 Asian universities from Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines, and universities from Spain and Greece, as well as a consulting company from Luxembourg. The main coordinator since January last year is Dr. Eng. Krzysztof Tomiczek from the Department of Geoengineering and Resource Exploitation at the Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation of the Silesian University of Technology.
– The aim of the project is to create a new specialty in the field of studies "Geomatics for Disaster Risk Reduction" with the necessary laboratory facilities at six Asian universities from Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The field of study will educate highly specialized staff prepared to forecast, monitor and analyse natural disasters, and in the event of their occurrence, to manage them, with particular emphasis on ensuring the safety of victims and infrastructure - said Dr. Eng. Krzysztof Tomiczek
Asia and its south-eastern part is the most vulnerable region in the world to natural disasters. They are an everyday part of the life of the inhabitants of this region. – In Southeast Asia, there are about 180 natural disasters annually, in the world the number is about 430. This region also suffers the greatest material losses - about USD 80 billion a year - compared to about USD 200 billion in the world (data from 2021). About 65% of fatal accidents caused by natural disasters occur in Asia (with about 105,000 accidents worldwide). The most common are floods, storms and typhoons, earthquakes and landslides. According to forecasts, this situation will continue in the coming years - emphasized Dr. Eng. Krzysztof Tomiczek.
As part of the project, scientists from the Silesian University of Technology stayed in Malaysia from 8 to 20 January 2023 at the University Sains Malaysia (USM). In the first week, as part of the Erasmus+ project "Geomatics for Disaster Risk Reduction" (GeoDRR, Geomatics in Reducing the Risk of Occurrence and Consequences of Natural Disasters), and in the second, as part of a short-term scientific internship combined with the promotion of the Silesian University of Technology.
As part of the activities planned in the project, scientists from Poland, Spain, Greece and Malaysia prepared lectures and training sessions. In addition to Dr. Eng. Krzysztof Tomiczek, the Silesian University of Technology was represented by the following participants in the project: Dr hab. Eng. Anna Bluszcz, prof. SUT; Dr Eng. Katarzyna Tobór-Osadnik, prof. SUT from the Department of Safety Engineering at the Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation of the SUT.
- During the visit to University Sains Malaysia, scientists from the Silesian University of Technology, as part of GeoDRR training, gave lectures on the issues of geomatics, seismicity, research methodology, threats, risk and security management, and GIS (Geographic Information System) - said Dr. Eng. Krzysztof Tomiczek.
All-day meetings were filled with workshops, lectures and trainings. There was also a meeting of project managers - representatives of all partners, where the status of the project and further planned activities were discussed.
In the second week, during a short-term internship at University Sains Malaysia, activities planned in advance with USM were carried out, while promoting the Silesian University of Technology. University Sains Malaysia is a highly ranked Malaysian university, ranking high (501-600) on the Shanghai List.
During the meeting with the USM faculty and rector authorities, a letter of intent was signed regarding the planned cooperation in the implementation of joint student projects and doctoral internships. The letter from the Silesian University of Technology was signed by the Rector prof. Arkadiusz Mężyk and HE Vice-Rector of USM prof. Narimah Samat.
Dr. Krzysztof Tomiczek, prof. Anna Bluszcz and prof. Katarzyna Tobór-Osadnik also gave lectures for USM students, e.g. on: the impact of water on strength and deformation properties from the point of view of geotechnics and geomechanics, IT project management, sustainable project management and safety engineering in the context of natural hazards.
Scientists from the Silesian University of Technology took part in meetings with USM representatives representing, among others: Sustainable Development Research Centre, Technology Departments, River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre, Strategic Corporate Development Office, Academic and International Cooperation Department, Centre for International Exchange and Cooperation, Innovation Research and Geographical Information System of the City of Penang. During these meetings, the scientific and research offer of the Silesian University of Technology was presented.
