Reporting Session Held regarding U.S. Study Tour of International Exchange Subject: "Disaster Prevention and Environment in the 21st Century – Lessons Learned from Disaster Recovery"

January 8, 2009

Seeking to help Kyoto University (KU) students study abroad, international exchange subjects have been available since 2005 to KU students, regardless of faculty. In 2007 and 2008, with the cooperation of the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, an international exchange subject was available on the theme "Disaster Prevention and Environment in the 21st Century – Lessons Learned from Disaster Recovery." As part of the subject program, students visited New York, which was seriously damaged by the 9.11 terrorist attacks in 2001, and New Orleans, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2004. The tour was led by Professor Haruo Hayashi and Associate Professor Norio Maki of the Research Center for Disaster Reduction Systems, the Disaster Prevention Research Institute.

The tour's reporting session was held in the International Multipurpose Hall of the International Center. At the session, 16 undergraduates who have taken the subject during the past two years and their instructors discussed appropriate recovery from large-scale disaster and appropriate disaster prevention measures. Since the subject’s aim is to help students study overseas, the reporting session was held in English, offering the students a useful opportunity to give their presentations and take part in Q&A in English.

Professor Haruo Hayashi of the Research Center for Disaster Reduction Systems, the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, making his comments	Students who have taken the subject during the past two years
Undergraduate students giving presentations in English	Students actively exchanging opinions