A Challenge to Earthquake Engineering Professionals

Recent earthquakes have caused unacceptably high death tolls. We, the editors of theWorld Housing Encyclopedia, believe that reducing such an un- acceptably high loss of life from earthquakes is the most important challenge facing the global earthquake engineering community. This paper acknowl- edges the continuing disparity between life loss from earthquakes in devel- oping and developed countries, and the increasing vulnerability in developing countries. A sampling of current efforts to improve construction practices in- cludes the publication of earthquake tips in India, construction manuals in Colombia, and the formation of various international networks to promote collaboration and information sharing. Future possibilities include more re- wards for research into inadequately engineered construction, greater empha- sis on small-scale, local efforts, and a stronger emphasis on advocacy.We be- lieve that all of us, as earthquake professionals, have a responsibility to make the built environment safer worldwide.