The International Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change was held
on 22 nd August 2023 at the Maldives National University, Male', Maldives. The symposium was a significant event organized under UN4DRR project supported by the
EU Erasmus+ Programme. The symposium was also held in conjunction with the Theveli International Conference (Research for Informed Policy Decisions), the annual research conference of the Maldives National University.
Total of 25 papers and 13 posters were presented in the symposium, both from local and international presenters, encompassing various aspects of disaster risk reduction and climate change as well as other environmental issues like coastal change and marine ecosystems. The symposium also provided an opportunity for students enrolled in the Master of
Geospatial Technologies for Disaster Management, a course developed under the
project, to showcase their research work in the area. Project partners from University of
Colombo, University of Peradeniya and University of Nicosia also presented papers in
the session.
Professor Željko Bačić, from the project partner University of Zagreb, Faculty of
Geodesy and Institute for Geomatics, Chair for Satellite Geodesy, was a distinguished
keynote speaker at the main event. His insightful keynote focused on the theme “Smart
Education for Disaster Threatened Smart Cities”. He also delivered a preconference
workshop on 19 th August 2023, on the topic “Development of Sustainable Cities in the
Disaster Threatened World” attended by interested academic and students.
Overall, the symposium served as a platform for researchers, students, and experts to
come together and exchange knowledge and insights regarding disaster risk reduction
and climate change. The diverse range of topics covered in the symposium
demonstrated the crucial importance of these issues and the need to address the
challenges through research and informed policies.