GHI Founder: Protecting World's Most Vulnerable Communities from Earthquakes

Dr. Brian Tucker to receive prestigious George Brown Award in Washington, D.C.

(PRWEB) August 22, 2007 -- Dr. Brian Tucker, founder and president of GeoHazards International (GHI), has been selected to receive the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation's (CRDF) George Brown Award for International Science & Technology Cooperation in recognition of his lifelong work to reduce death and injury caused by earthquakes in the world's most vulnerable communities.

CRDF (www.crdf.org) will present the 2007 George Brown award on October 11 in Washington, DC. Dr. Zafra Lerman of Columbia College Chicago will also receive the award for engaging and encouraging scientists across the globe in the pursuit of peace, cooperation and cultural understanding.

Dr. Tucker, a seismologist and disaster prevention specialist, works through a global network of people dedicated to reducing the risks of death and injury caused by earthquakes and natural disasters in impoverished countries, by sharing and promoting civil engineering principles and connecting local experts, engineers, scientists and government officials with their counterparts abroad.

For over sixteen years, Dr. Tucker has created exhibits, organized workshops and symposia around the world, printed multilingual reports and written/edited three books to raise awareness of the geologic threats to communities from Tajikistan to Ecuador. Beyond education, he has drafted earthquake mitigation plans and has supported mason training and the retrofitting of schools to leave a long-term legacy of preparation, mitigation and sustainability.

In its third year, the CRDF George Brown Award recognizes individuals for their work to promote cross-border science collaboration, in the spirit of the late U.S. Congressman George Brown.

Quotes

"Brian Tucker's work acclaims George Brown's vision that international research cooperation can be a crucial building block for human progress and international understanding." - Dr. Daniel Sarewitz, director, Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes

Media Resources

CRDF has compiled research, statements, articles and background bookmarks on the work of Dr. Tucker: http://del.icio.us/crdf/Brian_Tucker

More information about Dr. Tucker and the George Brown Award is available at www.crdf.org/georgebrown/

About CRDF

CRDF is a nonprofit organization authorized by the U.S. Congress and established in 1995 by the National Science Foundation. This unique public-private partnership promotes international scientific and technical collaboration through grants, technical resources, and training.

CRDF Contact

EA Dyson

Ph: 703-526-2339

www.crdf.org/newsroom

GeoHazards International Contact

Janifer Stackhouse

Ph: 650-283-0343

http://www.geohaz.org/

# # #