St. Xavier’s University in Kolkata has launched a disaster risk reduction management course in partnership with the India Japan Laboratory at Keio University.

In a statement, the university’s vice-chancellor Felix Raj mentioned that the research center offering the course is named in honor of the famous scientist and Jesuit Father Eugine Lafont.

Felix Raj, who described the disaster risk reduction management course as a fitting tribute to Lafont, said that Lafont's experiments at St. Xavier's College laboratory anticipated a disaster around 1867, and this foresight preserved numerous lives. He additionally emphasized the importance of raising awareness about disaster management through accurate and up-to-date information to reduce risk.

Dr. Rajiv Shaw, Director of Keio University’s India Japan Laboratory, stated that this course will transfer Japanese expertise in disaster mitigation and resilience, including essential knowledge, skills, technology, and tools.

Along with students, researchers, and social workers, a team of officials from the Department of Disaster Management and Civil Defence has enrolled in the first batch of this course, which will be conducted by renowned resource persons from India and Japan, the statement noted.

The statement indicated that the course is a result of a MoU previously signed between St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata, and the India Japan Laboratory at Keio University.