We have to start with a new paradigm, which is Indonesia as a disaster laboratory.

Jakarta Experts can play an important role in developing community resilience against potential disasters in the country, secretary for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Lilik Kurniawan, has emphasized.

“They are experts or academicians as part of the disaster mitigation penta-helix in Indonesia,” Kurniawan said at a virtual discussion on the role of experts in building resilience against disasters, here on Saturday. He was the key speaker at the discussion.

Penta-helix by BNPB is a part of the mutual cooperation of many parties for mitigating disasters, he added.

Intellectuals, as part of the penta-helix, can greatly contribute to disaster mitigation, he observed. He cited the example of how scientists and researchers play a role in contributing and working to reduce disaster risk.

According to him, the academicians’ part in disaster mitigation is crucial, considering that Indonesia has been experiencing several disaster events that have made its people more responsive and tough in facing potential disasters.

Source: Antara News