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Ten years ago, the city of Kobe and its adjoining areas in Hyogo prefecture of Japan were hit by a strong earthquake, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. This earthquake was a turning point in disaster reduction initiatives in Japan, resulting in two prominent changes: 1) a blending of technological and social issues in the field of research and application, and 2) an enhanced participation of civil society in disaster reduction Initiatives. Since Japan had long been one of the most developed countries in the field of earthquake engineering, the tragedy in Kobe posed a daunting question: 'how to fill the gap between knowledge and practice?' This question is not only for Japan, but is pertinent to many other countries. With the advancement of technology, the knowledge base is growing, and it is now time to tackle this question in order to save lives and properties from natural disasters. The World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR), at the 10th anniversary of the Kobe earthquake, is therefore of special significance, providing an excellent platform to share experiences, expertise, and lessons from different parts of the world. The year 2005 is also the beginning of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD: 2005-2014) which is led by UNESCO.