January 23, 2020

Exploration Seminar: Health Impacts of the Great East Japan Earthquake

Applications Due: February 15, 2020
Dates: 8/23-9/13, 2020

The 9.1 magnitude 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan, and the fourth most powerful recorded in the world. The subsequent tsunami resulted in over 15,000 deaths and 6,000 injuries. Today, over 2,500 people are still missing, and 5,000 are still living in temporary housing. Guided by faculty with public health, nursing and disaster science experience, this exploration seminar will provide students with an understanding of individual, family and community health impacts of disasters, as well as disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery. Through our strong partnership with Tohoku University’s renowned International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Students will gain a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from disaster scientists and community leaders that designed and implemented response and recovery strategies.

We will begin in Tokyo, where students will learn about Japanese culture, gain an understanding of the Japanese health system, and earthquakes. We will then travel to Sendai, Tohoku prefecture, which is the area most impacted by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. We will participate in lectures and activities to learn about disaster impacts. To appreciate differing approaches to recovery, we will visit Minami-Sanriku, a rural community heavily impacted by the disaster, and engage in experiential learning activities. We will then travel to Tono, Japan, known for its Japanese folklore, to enhance understanding of Japanese culture. We will return to Sendai where students will deliver a group presentation that synthesizes lessons learned, individual reflections and course readings.

Learn more here.