Although other global events may now be taking center stage in the media, Japan remains a country in crisis. The Georgia Institute of Technology continues to respond to the disaster on a number of fronts.

Outreach by Georgia Tech Students

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

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

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

Crisis and Recovery Insight
On Wednesday, April 6, Georgia Tech experts will participate in a faculty-led conversation 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 5:30 p.m.

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

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

    * Usha C. Nair-Reichert, School of Economics

    * Glenn Rix, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

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

International Programs

All international work and study abroad programs destined for Japan have been canceled due to ongoing disaster conditions in the country and based on the travel warning issued by the U.S. Department of State. This decision impacts not only students who planned to participate in programs this spring, but also a total of 22 students who were scheduled to participate in summer work and study abroad programs. Georgia Tech is working with students whose programs are canceled to try to minimize the negative consequences for the students. 

Georgia Tech is also reaching out to students in Japan. The Institute is finalizing logistics to host two or three graduate students from Tohoku University in one of Tech’s research centers as well as exploring other ways that students might be accommodated.