Duke and IOE Students Unveil Earthquake Early Warning Research at Kathmandu Symposium

Kathmandu: The students from Duke University (USA) and the Institute of Engineering (IOE) of Tribhuvan University presented the outcomes of their year-long collaborative research on the interdisciplinary topic of Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) at a symposium held on May 23.

The symposium marked the latest achievement of the Duke-IOE collaboration known as the Kathmandu Geo Lab. It served as a unique, in-person celebration of individual and collective accomplishments and provided an open platform for professionals, students, and interested members of the Kathmandu community to engage with the student researchers and discuss their work.

According to a statement issued by the Kathmandu Geo Lab, the research showcased at the event highlighted the multifaceted nature of EEW systems, which rely on interdisciplinary collaboration across technology, social science, public policy, data science, seismology, and earthquake engineering. 

Moreover, the students emphasized that even the most accurate warnings may fail to prompt rapid action if not supported by effective policies and culturally relevant public education. Recent advances in data science and the Internet of Things (IoT) have expanded access to development tools, while domain-specific expertise remains essential to building a comprehensive EEW system.

“Research on earthquake early warning systems is extremely important, and it is essential that this topic be addressed at the policy-making level so that effective actions can be taken for disaster risk reduction,” the statement quotes Dr. Henri Gavin, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University.

Er. Sagar Khanal, a recent graduate of IOE and student coordinator for the project, mentioned that collaboration between IOE and Duke University was extremely fruitful and meaningful for students like him, as it provided them with an opportunity to conduct research and collaborate with international researchers.