Outreach by Georgia Tech Students

Through theStudent Government Association’s Tech Cares for Japan initiative, credit cardor BuzzCard donations can now be made at the following link: https://epay.gatech.edu/C20793_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=126

Funds collectedthrough this link and other efforts will be consolidated into a single checkand presented to the American Red Cross on behalf of Georgia Tech students.

Tech Caresfor Japan has also kicked off a “1,000 cranes” fundraising effort. Volunteerswill staff a table near Einstein Bros. Bagels through April 5 and collect aminimum $1 donation for each crane that is created. Plans are to display thefolded cranes in the Student Center.

Crisis and Recovery Insight
On Wednesday, April 6, Georgia Tech experts will participate in a faculty-ledconversation to discuss the causes, response  and consequences of the catastrophe in Japan.The event will be held in room 236 of the Global Learning Center from 4 to 5:30p.m.

Thediscussion will be moderated by Brian Woodall, Sam Nunn School of InternationalAffairs, and questions from the audience are welcomed. The panel members are:

    * Pinar Keskinocak, H. Milton StewartSchool of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    * Usha C. Nair-Reichert, School ofEconomics

    * Glenn Rix, School of Civil andEnvironmental Engineering

    * Glenn Sjoden, George W. Woodruff Schoolof Mechanical Engineering
Honored guests for the event include representatives of the Consulate-Generalof Japan in Atlanta. Guests will have the opportunity to sign a book ofcondolence and encouragement for the Japanese people, and a number oforganizations will be present for those who want to become more activelyengaged in recovery efforts.

International Programs

Allinternational work and study abroad programs destined for Japan have beencanceled due to ongoing disaster conditions in the country and based on thetravel warning issued by the U.S. Department of State. This decision impactsnot only students who planned to participate in programs this spring, but also atotal of 22 students who were scheduled to participate in summer work and studyabroad programs. Georgia Tech is working with students whose programs are canceled to try to minimize the negative consequences for the students. 

Georgia Techis also reaching out to students in Japan. The Institute is finalizinglogistics to host two or three graduate students from Tohoku University in oneof Tech’s research centers as well as exploring other ways that students mightbe accommodated.

When the earthquake and tsunami initially impacted Japan, contact was made with Georgia Tech students who were planning to or already participating in study and work abroad programs in that country.  Georgia Tech was able to determine that all of those students were safe.

The Institute continues to closely monitor conditions for the approximately 69 students participating in programs located in the Pacific Rim outside of Japan, however no action is necessary at this time.

To keep the Georgia Tech community informed about opportunities to assist Japan and our expertise in areas spanning from engineering to logistics, a new “Focus on Japan” website has been launched. The site, www.gatech.edu/japan/, will be continually updated as Georgia Tech’s response to the crisis evolves.

The site also features “How You Can Help,” providing links to relief organizations and information on student outreach activities. For example, students are in the process of initiating fundraising as well as blood drives and other efforts that will begin after spring break. Resources including information on travel advisories, nuclear energy and other topics will also be included on the site.

In addition, Jill Burya, assistant director of Georgia Tech's Work Abroad Program, was traveling in Japan on a Department of Education grant when the earthquake hit. She has safely returned to the United States.

Georgia Tech also has 35 students enrolled from Japan. OIE iscontacting these students to offer support and counseling services inthis potential time of need. For those who may have family or friendsin Japan, the Georgia Tech Counseling Center provides a variety ofservicesto students and the greater campus community. See the CounselingCenter's website at http://www.counseling.gatech.edu/index.php,foradditional details.

In addition, throughout the day, Georgia Tech researchers have providedtheir insight and expertise to the media and the public through ABC, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, CNN,CNN en Español, the Weather Channel, Fox News and other national newsorganizations. As this natural disaster transitions from a response torecovery situation, Georgia Tech will be involved in the research arenain terms of evaluating the impact of the earthquake and translatingthat knowledge into useful information designed to help mitigate futuredisasters.

Georgia Tech will continue to monitor the impact of the earthquake inJapan, the Pacific and other affected areas and stands ready to offerthe Institute's assistance and expertise.