Activities
Key Activities of UReC
Urban Research
UReC advances interdisciplinary research in areas such as inclusive urban studies in Asia, urban disaster resilience, and conflict management. These efforts aim to address key urban challenges, including population aging, poverty and social exclusion, multicultural integration driven by transnational migration, and the growing risk of compound disasters linked to global environmental change.
Human Resource Development
UReC promotes the development of early-career researchers and cross-disciplinary collaboration through initiatives such as on-site seminars, science cafés, and specialized training programs for disaster prevention professionals.
It also cultivates disaster prevention leaders and planners capable of designing district-level strategies and supporting the development of community-based disaster hubs.
Furthermore, UReC conducts research on multicultural integration, with a focus on engaging foreign residents and diverse community groups.
Community Engagement
UReC works to create inclusive urban spaces and strengthen social ties within communities. It also facilitates the development of community-based disaster prevention networks through collaboration with stakeholders such as local governments, businesses, schools, and nonprofit organizations.
These initiatives foster social inclusion and help address challenges arising from weakened interpersonal and communal relationships in urban areas.
Social Collaboration
UReC enhances international and domestic partnerships to advance collaborative research and human resource development in urban science and disaster resilience.
In Asia, it works with cities to establish urban resilience hubs that facilitate personnel exchange and mutual learning.
In Japan, UReC collaborates with municipal governments on policy development and mutual exchange, while engaging NGOs and private-sector partners in field-based, needs-oriented research.
Research Infrastructure
UReC curates academic resources and maintains research infrastructure to support sustained inquiry into urban and disaster-related issues.
Its initiatives include publishing scholarly works and developing specialized archives, such as the Urban Library, photo archives, and the Disaster Prevention Museum.
The Center also collects and preserves historical records, educational materials, and databases to pass on disaster knowledge to future generations.