Bangkok hosts GEOSEA 2012

BANGKOK, March 8 (TNA) - Geologists of 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are gathering here for the GEOSEA 2012 Conference to exchange their knowledge and to work out effective solutions to natural disasters. The theme of the conference, organized by the Geological Society of Thailand, is “Geoscience in Response to the Changing Earth”. Thai Permanent Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Chote Trachu said that geology could help authorities forecast disasters and cope with them swiftly, and that he expects Southeast Asian countries to exchange their knowledge and technologies in this field for the purpose. Chote mentioned a floodway project in Malaysia as an effective flood drainage solution; while President of the Geological Society of Thailand Songpop Polachan insisted that Southeast Asian nations need to jointly develop geological knowledge to effectively cope with numerous natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods and landslides which affect a number of people. (TNA)