Inaugural Disaster Management Conference Highlights U.S. Leadership in Innovation and Preparedness
BANGKOK, Thailand – June 30, 2025 – The U.S. Embassy Bangkok, in partnership with the MIT ASEAN Initiative and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), today hosted the inaugural “Disaster Management Conference: Technology, Innovation, and Research for Effective Disaster Response and Prevention” at One Bangkok Forum. This half-day event aimed to foster open dialogue on disaster management policy, highlight American expertise in disaster management research and practice, and create opportunities for American private sector companies with various disaster management solutions to engage with policymakers, academics, non-governmental organizations, and thought leaders in Thailand and ASEAN countries.
The conference featured opening remarks from U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec, Dr. Sorapop Kiatpongsan, Director of the MIT ASEAN Initiative, and Mr. Chatit Huayhongtong, President of AmCham and Chevron Thailand.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Godec highlighted the long history of U.S. assistance to Thailand during times of need. He noted the conference’s timeliness following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that affected Thailand on March 28, causing damage in 18 provinces. Following the incident, the Ambassador noted the immediate deployment of U.S. support, including the U.S. military’s state-of-the-art remote sensing device to help Thai-led search and rescue teams at the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building at Chatuchak. This device assisted the teams by detecting 70 potential spots for victims deep within the SAO building rubble, a “tangible difference this new technology was making on the ground.” Ambassador Godec stressed that America is leading in innovation and technology in disaster management, with scientists unlocking AI’s potential for predictive modeling, designing technology to increase community resilience, and creating solutions for disaster mitigation. He also highlighted the crucial role of preparedness, achieved through platforms like the annual Cobra Gold Exercises. This exercise brings together 30 nations for joint training, which for the last twenty years specifically addressed responding to disasters and life-threatening crises through training such as Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations, training that participants have implemented to save countless lives. He concluded by quoting Benjamin Franklin: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail,” underscoring the collective effort to build a “stronger, safer and more prosperous future” for all.
The conference’s primary goal was to promote cutting-edge U.S. technology, innovation, and research to enhance disaster management capabilities. It aimed to expand understanding of contemporary technology and trends in disaster management, to include artificial intelligence and machine learning for predictive modeling, remote sensing and satellite monitoring, robotics and augmented reality, crisis mapping, and blockchain for aid distribution.
The conference agenda included a range of insightful presentations and interactive discussions. Dr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, presented a “Disaster Management Showcase” on the “Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.” The conference also featured two distinguished keynote speakers from MIT:
- The “Risk Reduction through Technology and Design” talk by Prof. Miho Mazereeuw, Director of MIT Climate Mission and Director of Urban Risk Lab, showcased how communities can leverage design and technology to increase resilience against climate risks like flooding, cyclones, heat stress, and seismic disasters. Prof. Mazereeuw leads the Urban Risk Lab which engages in action research through fieldwork and community workshops to embed preparedness in a rapidly urbanizing world. Her forthcoming book, “Design Before Disaster: Japan’s Culture of Preparedness,” is expected in late 2025.
- Dr. Sai Ravela, Principal Research Scientist at MIT’s Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), addressed in his keynote, “Emerging MIT Tech Frontiers of Risk-based Resilience to Extremes in a Changing Climate”, the innovative work in simulation and algorithms for mitigating risks from natural and climate disasters, including AI-driven exposure and vulnerability mapping. Dr. Ravela directs the Earth Signals and Systems Group and his research centers on computational sustainability and climate risk, with a particular emphasis on extreme events. He is recognized for his contributions to coastal risk quantification and advances a new Co-Active Systems Theory to couple models, data, and human insight for environmental stewardship.The conference concluded with two industry panel discussions, featuring representatives from One Bangkok, Honeywell, SCG, McKinsey & Co. and Western Digital.
About MIT ASEAN Initiative
The MIT ASEAN Initiative played a crucial role in co-hosting this inaugural conference. Officially opened on October 30, 2024, the initiative serves as a bridge for action learning, convening activities, and faculty engagement from across MIT to drive economic and social impact throughout the ASEAN region. The idea for this disaster management conference specifically arose after a major earthquake hit Thailand and Myanmar on March 28, 2025, making disaster management a policy priority for Thailand. This partnership brought MIT subject experts together with the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Bangkok local government, and American companies in Thailand to address this critical need.
Contact: U.S. Embassy Bangkok Press Office Email: [email protected]
Download Press Materials:
Press release, photos, the Ambassador’s speech and other press materials from the conference are available here.
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