The occurrence of large and major earthquakes in recent years has left huge damages and life losses in many countries located in earthquake prone areas. Due to this very significant impact of earthquakes across the world, considerable scientific efforts on research and technology have resulted in considerable advancement in mitigation of seismic risk and improvement of the awareness of societies. However, in spite of these substantial efforts, the seismic risk reduction has not reached to an acceptable level yet. This urges the need for further scientific research to achieve more precise, effective and practical approaches.

Ever since the First Conference on Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (SEE1) in 1991, the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES) has gathered the scientific and engineering community concerned with seismic hazard reduction every four years in order to present their innovations, scientific and engineering works, as well as exchanging ideas and knowledge to mitigate seismic risk. In SEE6, following the call for papers, from 1340 abstracts received from over 23 countries, 567 full papers were accepted for publication in the conference proceedings including 335 papers in English and 232 Papers in Persian. Among these, 208 have been scheduled for oral presentation and 359 are considered for poster sessions.

Well-known keynote lecturers from different comers of the globe have been selected to cover a wide range of topics from seismology to newer design approaches. In addition, workshops and special panel sessions on the Seismic Retrofit of Schools, Evaluation of Strategies for Seismic Retrofit, Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami of March 11-2011(Japan) and the Earthquake and Safety Drill and Correct Reaction during Earthquakes, are organized.

It is our hope that SEE6 Conference exceeds your expectations and provides an atmosphere for the participants to share and improve their knowledge. We would also like to take this opportunity and thank our distinguished keynote speakers and respected authors for their kind contribution, the IIEES academic members and scientific committee, research advisory, co-sponsors and last but not the least, the executive committee and colleagues, who have all contributed toward the successful organization of the SEE6 Conference.

Abbas Ali Tasnimi
Professor
Conference Chairman
IIEES President

Afshin Kalantari
Assistant Professor
Conference Coordinator IIEES