By Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management (DPMM)
The 4th International Symposium on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development (DRSD 2025), hosted by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in collaboration with 23 institutional partners, concluded with remarkable success, marking a new milestone in global knowledge exchange for resilience and sustainability. For the first time, the symposium was organized in a hybrid mode, enabling broader participation and deeper engagement. With more than 275 participants from over 25 countries, 200+ technical presentations, and 40+ keynote and panel speakers, the symposium paved way for in-depth discourse on some of the most pressing challenges at the intersection of disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, technology, and sustainable development.
The three-day event began with a warm welcome by Dr. Indrajit Pal, Chair and Convener of DRSD 2025, who invited delegates into what he called the “DRSD Family,” emphasizing the importance of long-term, collaborative learning networks. Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President of AIT, in his opening remarks, highlighted AIT’s role as a regional hub for research, innovation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Six plenary keynotes bridge science, policy and action in resilience building
Leading experts across multiple disciplines and geographies shared remarkable solutions and vital lessons from their research and actions.
Prof. Rajib Shaw (Keio University, Japan) in his Opening Keynote ‘Japan’s Experiences in Managing Risk in a Complex Global Landscape’ underscored the increasing need to strengthen digital inclusivity, enhance urban–rural resilience linkages, and adopt integrated upstream–downstream ecosystem management approaches to reduce disaster risk across diverse communities.
Prof. Saini Yang (IRDR) presented on the ‘‘IRDR Misson: Science-Policy-Practice Interface’, emphasizing the urgent need to turn scientific research into actionable disaster risk solutions, supported by innovation, technology, early warning pilots, and strengthening global governance through international networks and training.
Dr. Sanjay Srivastava (Indian Institute of Science) delivered his keynote on ‘Smart Solutions for a Resilient World: The Data & Tech Advantage’, demonstrating how data-driven tools reduce costs and enhance performance in infrastructure, agriculture, and disaster management. He emphasized that smart solutions are most effective when they are people-centered, co-designed with communities, and complemented by clear communication.
Dr. Wei-Sen Li (NCDR, Taiwan) elaborated on ‘Science-Driven Disaster Risk Management’, showing how Taiwan’s long-term investments in research, early warning, building codes, and seismic retrofitting have significantly reduced disaster impacts. He stressed the need for combining scientific evidence with public communication and inclusive evacuation planning.
Prof. Andy Large (Newcastle University, UK) presented the ‘Living Deltas Network Approach’, highlighting transdisciplinary research data integration, nature-based solutions, and community partnerships to strengthen adaptive capacities and livelihoods for delta resilience.
Mrs. Sujata Saunik, former Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, shared insights on ‘Maharashtra’s Initiative in Heat Action and Disaster Planning (2015–2025)’, demonstrating how strong governance, early warning, medical capacity building, public awareness, and investment in cooling solutions have significantly improved preparedness in the face of rising heat waves.
Six plenary panel discussions provide deeper dive into disaster risk reduction and sustainable development
Thematic panel discussions brought together experts from academia, government, industry, and civil society to unpack region-specific and cross-cutting resilience issues.
Panel I ‘Asia Pacific Resilience Landscape’: Panelists stressed that resilience in the region requires innovation, ecosystem regeneration, groundwater security, nature-based solutions, social inclusion, and integration of traditional knowledge.
Panel II ‘Water–Food–Livelihood (W-F-L) Nexus’: Experts called for holistic and participatory approaches to EbA and NbS, ensuring that research and MEL frameworks reflect local knowledge, preferences, and values. They emphasized coupling ecosystem and human benefits, including economic, cultural, and health co-benefits.
Panel III ‘Climate Change and Human Mobility’: The discussion highlighted the increasing number of climate-induced migrants due to declining ecosystem services and livelihood losses. Panelists stressed the need for rights-based, inclusive policies, better protection mechanisms, and integrating human mobility into urban planning and climate policy frameworks.
Panel IV ‘Infrastructure and Built Environment Resilience’: Participants underscored the challenges of inadequate data, weak geoscience capacity, and rapid urbanization. Strengthening modeling, early warning, systems thinking, and coordination between policy and technical communities were key recommendations.
Panel V ‘Delta and Coastal Socio-Ecological Systems’: Panelists identified compounded threats such as typhoons, floods, groundwater decline, pollution, and mangrove loss. They emphasized the vulnerabilities of women, children, rural, and low-income groups, calling for stronger policies, community ownership, and inclusive participation.
Panel VI ‘From Data to Decisions in Resilience’: Experts highlighted major bottlenecks in data sharing and interpretation. They called for improved high-resolution downscaling, robust protocols, and community-responsive data systems. Data, they stressed, must support multiple inferences and meaningful local decision-making.
Closing Reflections: Collaboration for a Resilient Future
The symposium concluded with a comprehensive summary and heartfelt vote of thanks by Dr. Indrajit Pal, highlighting the collective achievements of speakers, presenters, session chairs, and partners. Four outstanding student presenters were awarded the Best Student Presentation Award, recognizing emerging voices in resilience research.
In the Closing Remarks, Prof. Siddhartha K. Jabade, Vice President for Administration and Development at AIT, emphasized that the path to sustainability and resilience lies in continued collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective action among like-minded researchers and practitioners.
