A platform for multidisciplinary research in disaster science through experiences from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and Tsunami

Recent natural disasters, including the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, have caused tremendous widespread damage and disruption around the world, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) has become a global priority. Tohoku University established a core research cluster, thus creating a new area of “disaster science” that consolidates four different science areas – practical, natural sciences, humanities, and social science – by adopting the disaster management cycle concept. It takes an inventory of research needs for science and technology applications in DRR and serves as a platform for discussions on strengthening multidisciplinary research on disaster science. This paper introduces the central idea driving the project and offers strategies to contribute to existing academic science and international society.