Joshua Aspden: Research on Environmental Climatology and Disaster management in Indonesia

My name is Joshua Aspden (British-Ecuadorian) and I am currently a student at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany. I am studying a Masters in International Humanitarian Action, with the second semester at the Universidad de Deusto, Bilbao, Spain and the 3rd semester doing research for my masters thesis at the UGM, Indonesia.

Joshua Aspden

The the NOHA (Network on Humanitarian Action) masters also has partnerships with other universities. I have applied successfully to do research at the Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogayakarta, Indonesia, the subject Environmental Climatology and Disaster Management. This will help in ongoing research into disaster preparedness, LRRD (Link to Relief Recovery and Development), as well as disaster mitigation. More information is available on the website http://www.nohanet.org/ My research in Indonesia will take place between June 2012-September 2012.

I have been interested in Indonesia for many years, with my parents having lived in Bandung, Indonesia for 4 years, from 1978-1982.  So from a young age I was influenced by their time in Indonesia, even though I wasn’t born at the time. Our house in Nottingham, UK has always been influenced by Indonesia as well, with wall hangings, shadow puppets, carvings, as well as my parents cooking Nasi Goreng, Satay, Sambal and still speaking in Bahasa Indonesia.

I have also applied for the opportunity to forward my career in Humanitarian Assistance, specifically focusing on Disaster Management, with a research post in an Indonesian University, in an Indonesian managed project. So I feel that this is an excellent opportunity for an equal partnership that will be mutual beneficial.

I have also travelled extensively, globaly as well as living in Ecuador, UK, Germany, India, Portugal, Brazil, Papua New Guinea and the Czech Republic for extended periods of time. During this time I have seen community initiatives, as well government initiatives for disaster management with its successes as well as failures, and wish to share this knowledge in a productive way.

Environmental Climatology and Disaster management analyzes the long-term, mid-term and short term trends of both environment and climate and how best to manage a Humanitarian Response during natural disaster.

I believe that fostering community responses to community issues, is one of best ways of tackling problems facing the community. These focuses I will undertake is encompasses disaster preparedness, disaster prevention as well as LRRD (Link to Relief Rehabilitation and Development) and also Development cooperation.

I was hoping that in conjuction with Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogayakarta, Indonesia the research into Environmental Climatology and Disaster Management, will be used to help with on location disaster management.

I am looking for information on grants, contacts in the field of disaster management and scholarships opportunities. Please contact me via my emai, LinkedInl and skype.

jpt.aspden@gmail.com
LinkedIn Joshua Aspden
or through skype at: ecuazique