/’ Office of Public Affairs
For immediate release 3 December 2993 THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE G TECHNOLOGY
?l!mHwA% Tel: (852) 358 6316 Fax: (852) 358 0537
Distinguished Scholar to Lecture on Natural Disasters at HKUST
A free public lecture on natural disasters will be given by the world-renowned scholar Professor George W. Housner on 9 December at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
The lecture will concentrate on natural disasters, such as earthquakes, typhoons, _
.:. floo’ds, landslides and wildfires, that have caused millions of deaths and enormous
.-
economic loss during this century.. Mitigation of these disasters relies on the efforts of scientists and engineers who are studing the characteristics of these hazards and developing ways to reduce their impact on cities.
Professor Housner is currently the C.F. Braun Professor of Engineering, Emeritus, at . California Institute of Technology. During his career he has served as President of the Seismological Society of America, the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and the International Association for Earthquake Engineering.
Professor Housner has also served as chairman of numerous advisory panels and special committees for the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Research Council, and other governmental organizations in the United States. He is the author of widely cited technical papers dealing with earthquake engineering, structural design and hazard mitigation.
Professor Housner has received many awards and honors for his contributions. He was the first recipient of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s George W. Housner Medal, which was established in his honor.
The lecture is sponsored by the Research and Development branch of HKUST. Progra,mme’details are as follows:
Topic: The Cause, Effect and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
Date: Thursday, December 9
Time: 230 p.m.
Place: Lecture Theater F, HKUST
(For enquiries, please call the office of Public Aj@irs at 358-6307 or pager 1163388 call
2652)
