Disaster-Resilient Societies through GTU and JCIA Collaboration

December 15, 2022

GTU and JICA sign collaboration agreement to create disaster-resilient socities and establish a research and education complex.

Gebze Technical University (GTU) has opened a new page within the scope of the disaster management collaboration between Japan and Türkiye that has been going on for several years. The collaboration agreement between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and GTU covering the "Research and Education Complex Establishment Project to Develop Disaster-Resilient Societies" was signed at a ceremony held at the GTU Senate Room. GTU Rector Prof. Dr. Hacı Ali Mantar; JICA Senior Vice President Naoki Ando; Chief Representative of JICA Türkiye Office Yuko Tanaka; representatives of JICA; and academics from GTU's Department of Civil Engineering Prof. Dr. Bülent Akbaş, Prof. Dr. Selçuk Toprak, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Anıl Dindar, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ceren Özer-Sözdinler attended the ceremony. The agreement was signed by Rector Mantar and JICA Senior Vice President Ando.

Under the project, for which the collaboration agreement has been signed, studies will be carried out to expand earthquake engineering technology by creating a comprehensive and evidence-based open information platform to reduce disaster risks, prepare an educational environment, and develop disaster awareness in order to create earthquake-resilient societies. The project, which will be led by Japan's Kagawa University, will be supported by many universities from the two countries and authorized institutions in disaster risk mitigation. In addition, the working groups within the project will carry out advanced technology-based seismological and geodetic studies on the North Anatolian Fault, which has caused the most destructive earthquakes in Türkiye's history. It is anticipated that these studies will make significant contributions to mitigating the possible risks in the expected Marmara earthquake.