Public Education and Promoting Safety Culture Department

Public Education and Promotion of Safety Culture (PEPSC) department began its activities with the establishment of the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES) in 1989, with the aim of promoting safety culture, earthquake risk reduction awareness and improving preparedness for disasters in the society.

In line with these main goals, various educational methods (including structured course materials and educational tools) and programs have been devised according to the latest scientific and operational findings beneficial for the community. The program is carried out in two areas of training and research. Special attention was given to the education, awareness, and preparedness of children, adolescents, and young adults with the aim of developing public culture in earthquake safety in the future. Some of the programs can be highlighted as follows.

According to Articles 12 to 15 of the IIEES Charter (Duties), the routine programs and also the long-term plans of the group are related to:

• Commissioning research and field projects to evaluate the needs, point of views, and to enhance educational methods related to earthquakes;
• Activities related to the National Earthquake Safety Day at IIEES;
• Leading nationwide earthquake drills for schools and all sectors of society until the program is institutionalized in all relevant organizations or centers;
• Guiding and assisting in the execution of earthquake drills in related organizations and implementing centers;
• Organizing provincial, national, and international competitions and festivals (drawing, poster design, model making or maquette, etc.);
• Preparing and producing educational materials (content production, films, books, brochures, infographics, posters, models, games, etc.) for various audiences;
• Holding training courses utilizing educational materials and media;
• Conducting in-service training courses (for staff and teachers in educational systems, etc.);
• Organizing scientific and educational conferences, workshops, and lectures;
• Preparing books, pamphlets, and educational reports; simplifying technical topics for the public in collaboration with specialists from earthquake, structural, and geotechnical areas;
• Developing contents for school textbooks in collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Curriculum Planning Office;
• Conducting periodic earthquake preparedness drills at IIEES and other organizations;
• Study and promotion regarding adequate methods of sheltering from earthquake shaking based on worldwide and nationwide experiences and/or analytical modeling;
• Preparing analytical reports on earthquakes and evaluating the impact of educational methods in reducing earthquake vulnerability and improving the methodologies.

Objectives:

• Promoting earthquake safety culture across society to reduce losses, casualties and damage caused by earthquakes;
• Optimizing educational methods to mitigate earthquake vulnerability through research projects and plans.