The National Society for Earthquake Technology – Nepal (NSET) is a Nepali non-governmental organization working on reducing earthquake risk and increasing earthquake preparedness in Nepal as well as other earthquake-prone countries.
 | |
| Founded | June 18, 1993 |
|---|---|
| Focus | Earthquake engineering, disaster risk reduction, seismic risk |
| Location | |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dr. Amod Mani Dixit, President Surya Narayan Shrestha, Executive Director Dr. Ramesh Guragain, Deputy Executive Director |
| Website | National Society for Earthquake Technology – Nepal (NSET) |
History edit
NSET was founded on June 18, 1993 and registered at the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, on April 28, 1994, and at the Social Welfare Council on August 10, 1998.[1]
Purpose edit
NSET was founded with the vision of "Earthquake Safe Communities in Nepal by 2020".[2][3]
Activities edit
In order to combat the growing risks posed by a devastating earthquake in Nepal in the near future, NSET seeks to make builders and citizens aware of affordable construction techniques that can significantly reduce seismic risk. Currently, 80 per cent of new buildings in Nepal are built informally, without engineering expertise. NSET's activities target the informal builders of such edifices: the organisation conducts demonstrations using a 'Shake Table', a tool that shows the effects of an earthquake on scale models of two buildings, one built using traditional methods and one incorporating earthquake engineering. The Shake Table demonstration has been given to builders, masons, engineers, policy makers and health and disaster response personnel and is now being used in India, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan as well.[4]
NSET also retrofits schools and other buildings in Nepal to make them more earthquake proof and runs earthquake drills for organisations such as hospitals, to allow them to perfect their disaster response techniques.[5]
Association Memberships edit
NSET is a founding member of the following associations:[6]
- Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN)[7]
- Coalition for Global School Safety (COGSS)
- Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal (DPNet)[8]
- International Live Lessons Transfer Network (TeLLNet)
NSET is also a member of the following associations:
- International Association for Earthquake Engineering (IAEE)
- World Seismic Safety Initiative (WSSI)
- Kirtipur Volunteer Society
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Vision statement". Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ^ "Vision statement". Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ^ "National Society for Earthquake Technology – Nepal (NSET): Organization Profile". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "Santa Clara University – Center for Science, Technology & Society – The Microsoft Education Award". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "National Geographic – Field Notes: Peter Essick". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "National Society for Earthquake Technology – Nepal (NSET): Organization Profile". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "ADRRN – Meet our members". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal: Institutional Members". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
Further reading edit
Bothara, J. K.; Guragain, R.; Dixit, A. (2002). "Protection of Educational Buildings Against Earthquakes: a Manual for Designers and Builders", National Society for Earthquake Technology – Nepal (NSET). [1]
Macabuag, J.; Guragain, R.; Bhattacharya, S. (2012). "Seismic retrofitting of non-engineered masonry in rural Nepal". Proceedings of the ICE – Structures and Buildings, Volume 65 Issue 6, January 2012, pp. 273–286. [2]