Newswise — The recent destruction in Haiti resulted from a huge earthquake near a susceptible population. The increased number of residents living in hazardous places around the world is the motivation behind a unique graduate program at Michigan Technological University.
“We try to reduce vulnerability,” says Bill Rose, professor of petrology and director of Michigan Tech’s Peace Corps Master’s International Program (PCMI) in Natural Hazards Mitigation. “We can tell people what may happen, and we can help save lives; we increase awareness and the ability for people to save themselves.”
The three-year master’s degree program includes a two-year field experience abroad. There, communication is key.
Rose stresses the importance of talking to people in local schools and government agencies before natural disasters occur. In addition to earthquakes, student volunteers in the program address volcanoes, floods, landslides and droughts.
For the full story, see http://www.mtu.edu/news/stories/2010/january/story22004.html
RSS