Omkala Khanal

National Society for Earthquake Technology - Nepal (NSET)

The Nepalese people, living in a country of high seismic hazard, have faced the consequences of many earthquakes including those of Great Earthquakes. Therefore, in order to reduce the impacts of future earthquakes; to raise awareness amongst the people on the possibilities of earthquake disaster reduction; to contribute to the development of science and technology related to earthquake disaster mitigation and implementation of earthquake resistant measures in construction; and to fulfill the necessity of a national, professional, non-governmental scientific organization, Nepalese professionals belonging to various technical as well as social aspects of earthquake disaster management decided to constitute the National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal in 1993. NSET was conceptualized with main objective "to foster the advancement of science and practice of earthquake engineering and technology for mitigating the earthquake risk and increasing the seismic safety, to enhance professionalism, professional engineering and scientific ethics and to further the objectives of the International Association for Earthquake Engineering as applicable to Nepal". Three strategic objectives also have been outlined addressing Information Dissemination & Knowledge Transfer, Advocacy & Networking, and Establishment of Credible Institution & Resource Center. Bringing "substantial change in the application of technology to the many facets of earthquake disaster management for saving the lives of the people" has remained the guiding philosophy of NSET ever since its inception. Today, NSET is Nepal's foremost institution working on earthquake risk management. Its seismic risk reduction activities are now being carried out in various parts of the world.