The National Disaster Mitigation Seminar, held by Thursina IIBS on Monday (December 8, 2025), carried the theme "Ready to Deal with Natural Disasters." The event was held simultaneously in two locations: Harvard Hall for female students and TICH Hall for male students. Both junior and senior high school students participated in the seminar to develop disaster literacy from an early age.
The event was officially opened by Ustaz Nanang Setyobudi, S.Fil.I., M.Pd., the Principal of Ma'had Thursina IIBS. In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of disaster literacy for young people living in disaster-prone areas like Indonesia.
"Students need to understand disaster risks so they can be responsive, wise, and avoid panic. Disaster literacy is essential for protecting themselves and helping others," he said.
The seminar featured Prof. Drs. Ir. Adi Susilo, M.Sc., Ph.D., the Head of the Geophysical Engineering Study Program of Brawijaya University, as the keynote speaker. Prof. Adi delivered the material in person at Harvard Hall, while male students participated online from TICH Hall. The arrangement allowed all participants to receive the material in an optimal and integrated manner.
In his presentation, Prof. Adi explained about the causes and impacts of various natural disasters, especially the floods and landslides that recently hit the regions of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
He described that the disaster was not solely triggered by natural factors, but also by environmental changes, extreme rainfall, geographic conditions, deforestation, and inappropriate spatial planning. "Understanding the root causes of disasters is the first step towards better prevention and mitigation," he said.
The students actively participated in the seminar, especially during the interactive session discussing disaster mitigation within the school and community. Thursina IIBS emphasized its commitment to improve critical awareness, social awareness, and preparedness for global and humanitarian issues by the activity.
As a concern for the disaster victims, the National Disaster Mitigation Seminar was closed with the opening of a donation to help the affected communities in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
This action reinforces the values of empathy and solidarity, while also instilling the purpose that students should not only learn to understand disasters but also make a real contribution to others. (iz/lil)
