About the Program  |   Courses  |   Instructors  |   Advisory Board  |   How to Apply  |   FAQ

About the Program

No longer accepting applications Next program offering: Summer, 2009 2009 information coming soon Receive e-mail updates, including information about the next program >> Program location: University of Washington campus, Seattle, and a field study tour in Western Washington Contact a program representative >>

Now you can get an advanced education in tsunami preparedness, taught by leading experts in the field, supported by NOAA and offered by a premier research university

Purpose and Background

Today public interest in tsunamis is growing at a faster rate than at any time in history. The massive human tragedy created by the 2004 Sumatra tsunami raised worldwide awareness of the urgent need for policy formation, advanced education for emergency management professionals, and widespread effective preparedness and warning systems in all areas of the world prone to this natural hazard. The U.S. has been striving to reduce tsunami hazards since 1949 when it established the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii. Today, we are entering a new era of scientific research and understanding of tsunamis and how to live with them. In 2006 the U.S. government enacted the Tsunami Warning and Education Act as an essential tool for mitigating the loss of life and property.

Tsunamis are complex phenomena with numerous issues involved in their effective mitigation. In order to warn and prepare populations for an imminent tsunami event, a comprehensive understanding of tsunami science and the use of state-of-the-art warning systems technologies are just the beginning of what professionals will need to help people respond to and recover from these disasters. Social, political and cultural knowledge will also become prerequisites for the development and maintenance of tsunami-resilient communities. That's why the University of Washington with the support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration now offers the Certificate Program in Tsunami Science and Preparedness. The curriculum has been specifically developed for the many different professionals who deal with natural hazard assessment, warning and disaster reduction. Developed as the most comprehensive program of its kind, the Certificate Program in Tsunami Science and Preparedness is engineered to equip professionals with the finest resources available to help them save lives.

Intended Audience

The program's intended audience includes professionals responsible for developing, establishing and maintaining multi-hazard warning and preparedness systems at the national, regional or local levels. Intended for planners, policy makers, emergency managers, scientists, engineers, and other professionals in both public and private sectors, the program provides the skills needed to build tsunami-resilient societies. The majority of program participants are expected to come from government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), universities, and private industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact a Program Representative

For more information about this program, including information about the program venue, accommodations, and application process, please call 206-685-8936 in the greater Seattle area, or 888-469-6499, or e-mail us.