Before the Unthinkable Happens Again

Before the unthinkable happens

An international roundtable discussion on the need for seismic mitigation research and applications for cultural heritage.
If statistics are correct, many of the world’s cultural centres will experience major earthquakes in the first few decades of the 21st century. Many have recently suffered the effects of significant seismic events (the Abruzzo earthquake in Italy being only one). Time is therefore not in preservation’s favour and immediate action is paramount. The needs for collaborative efforts in research and implementation, policy development and outreach are clear, and nothing less than the survival of much of the world’s cultural treasures is at stake.
Eight colleagues from five countries that regularly experience significant earthquakes agreed to consider a series of questions and to discuss with each other, and the audience in Tokyo, the way forward in protecting collections from damage due to earthquakes. These panelists have produced some of the best international research in seismology, engineering, education, policy and mitigation implementation to date and they lead the field with their knowledge and commitment.

Participants

National Museum of Western Art (Tokyo)

IIC

Date

Tuesday, 21 July, 2009 - 23:00

Place

Tokyo

Japan