International institutions

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Home page of LDEO of Columbia University

Earth Institute

Home page of the EI, Columbia University

Center for Hazards and Risk Research

Columbia University's physical and social scientists are undertaking a new research program in disasters and risk management motivated by a clear and compelling need to reduce the catastrophic impacts on society from natural and human-induced hazards. The Center for Hazards and Risk Research (CHRR) draws on Columbia's acknowledged expertise in Earth and environmental sciences, engineering, social sciences, public policy, public health and business. It has a twofold focus: * The advancement of predictive capability for hazard and risk * The integration of core science with techniques for hazard assessment and risk management. This program infuses the scientific and technological perspective on disasters with a deep appreciation of the social, political, and economic realities of the developing, as well as the developed, world. It requires a renewed focus on translating the key scientific concepts of probability and uncertainty into a language and set of rules useful to decision-makers.

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute is a national, nonprofit, technical society of engineers, geoscientists, architects, planners, public officials, and social scientists. EERI members include researchers, practicing professionals, educators, government officials, and building code regulators. MISSION STATEMENT The objective of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute is to reduce earthquake risk by (1) advancing the science and practice of earthquake engineering, (2) improving understanding of the impact of earthquakes on the physical, social, economic, political, and cultural environment, and (3) advocating comprehensive and realistic measures for reducing the harmful effects of earthquakes.

CITRIS - Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society

The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) creates information technology solutions for many of our most pressing social, environmental and healthcare problems. The first public-private partnership created to use IT in this way, CITRIS partners more than 300 faculty and thousands of students from myriad departments at four UC campuses (Berkeley, Davis, Merced and Santa Cruz) with industrial researchers from over 60 corporations. Together they are thinking about IT in ways that have not been thought of before. They see solutions to many of the concerns that face all of us today, from the environment and finding viable sustainable energy alternatives to healthcare delivery and developing secure electronic medical records and remote diagnosis, ultimately boosting economic productivity. CITRIS represents a bold and exciting vision that is leveraging one of the top university systems in the world with highly successful corporate partners and government resources.