Prof Dr Serguei Balassanian– IN MEMORIAM

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center deeply regrets the untimely passing away of Prof Dr Serguei Balassanian on 23 November 2004. Founder and Head of the National Survey for Seismic Protection in Armenia, he was serving as a Professor at Yerevan State University and as President of two organizations - Asian Seismological Commission and the Armenian Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior (AASPEI). For his personal long-term commitment and dedication to disaster reduction, particularly in seismic hazards, he was awarded the 1998 and the 2002 United Nations Sasakawa Award. ADPC was privileged to work with Prof Balassanian during the last two ASC meetings. ADPC and the disaster management community has lost yet another expert, guide and leading spirit.