ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the long experience of past US-Japan cooperative research programs in earthquake engineering and highlights some of the keys to the success of the collaboration. The discussion includes research topics, research modes, and organizations. Although earthquake engineering encompasses nearly 50 years of experience, its importance is still increasing. Indeed, the realized and potential impact of earthquakes on human suffering and societal infrastructure still demands the attention of the best innovative and creative scientific minds. However, it may also be true that some of the problems appear old and too traditional. Thus, it is essential that students be introduced to earthquake hazard mitigation as an exciting field in need of sophisticated and creative research drawing on the latest scientific and engineering information. New and innovative advances in earthquake technology will come from engineers and scientists who are able to approach problems from a multidisciplinary perspective. Many bright students introduced to earthquake hazard mitigation framed in this challenging multidisciplinary context will choose to specialize in this field and will pursue advanced degrees in this area. Such an approach to ensuring the future success of earthquake engineering requires enhanced international collaboration. The ultimate objective of such enhanced cooperation in science and technology in the area of earthquake hazard mitigation is to reduce the impact of those disasters on the United States, China and Japan, as well as on other countries throughout the world.
