The M.Sc. program in Disaster Management was established within the Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology in 2007. In June 2010, it became an independent department known as the Department of Disaster Management, with its center situated at Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram). It holds the distinction of being the first academic department in the country dedicated to Disaster Management, actively engaged in research and teaching in various aspects and domains of this field.
The department has established state-of-the-art laboratories, including the Surface Geophysics lab, Remote Sensing and GIS lab, Geochemistry lab, Earthquake and Tsunami lab, Sedimentology lab, and Early Warning Systems lab. These advanced facilities support multi-disciplinary research, knowledge exchange, and advanced teaching in various core areas of Disaster Management, fostering an inclusive, stimulating, and sustainable environment for exceptional research.
Natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods, and storms cause devastating consequences worldwide. Additionally, pandemics have the potential to inflict unprecedented death and suffering, while climate change may exacerbate the severity of disasters. Understanding societal perceptions of risk, linking causal mechanics to statistical approaches, and enhancing resilience to reduce disaster risk are common research themes encompassing geophysical, climatological, hydrological, biological, and environmental hazards.
The CDM, with its new academic staff, is rapidly evolving into a multi-disciplinary research center of excellence. With a strong commitment to action, the CDM envisions a future that addresses the global challenges of understanding risks, reducing disasters, and responding to humanitarian crises, both within India and internationally. The CDM establishes strategic alliances with industry, humanitarian agencies, international universities and institutes, professional and governmental bodies in the field of Disaster Management.
MISSION
The Department passionately endeavors to impart exceptional education to its students and relentlessly conducts cutting-edge research in Disaster Risk Reduction and Societal Importance. With relentless determination, we strive for nothing short of academic excellence, offering unparalleled field training to produce exceptional Disaster Managers.
VISION
Our goal is to become a prestigious institution renowned for its exceptional training and research in disaster risk mitigation and management within India. The CDM department strives to gain international acclaim for its excellence in teaching, research, and outreach. We are committed to providing students with the highest quality education, nurturing their talents, fostering intellectual growth, and shaping their personal development.