The Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) programme has welcomed the outcomes of the 2026 Disaster Risk Reduction Conference, held in Hangzhou from 16–18 April, as a significant milestone in advancing science-based disaster risk governance at the national level. Under the theme “Empowering Disaster Risk Reduction with Science and Technology: Building a Safe and Resilient Home,” the conference underscored the critical role of technological innovation in strengthening risk resilience, which is also a core mission of IRDR.
A key highlight of the opening ceremony was the presentation of the 2025 Disaster Prevention Science and Technology Awards. Among the distinguished recipients was Prof. Huadong Guo, former Ex-officio of IRDR and Chair of the IRDR National Committee of China, who was honored with the highest individual recognition “Special Achievement Award”.
Prof. Guo’s award not only recognizes his lifelong contributions to disaster risk research and Earth observation but also reflects the strong and sustained engagement of China’s disaster risk community within the global IRDR framework. His leadership continues to inspire deeper collaboration between national scientific excellence and international disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts.
The China Association for Disaster Prevention (CADP), a long-standing Partner of IRDR, organized the awards. CADP plays a vital role in translating research into practice, and the 2025 awards showcase the growing strength of China’s research-to-practice landscape in DRR. IRDR and CADP have a proven track record of collaboration, working together to bridge national and global DRR research frameworks. Their joint products, including the Global Natural Disaster Assessment Report series, stand as models of effective science-policy partnership.
As IRDR continues its efforts to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework and contribute to the development of the post-2030 agenda, the achievements celebrated in Hangzhou offer a compelling example of how national-level scientific excellence can align with and strengthen international DRR commitments.
