Participants of the 2025 Young Scientists Tengchong Roundtable

On Saturday, 6 December 2025, IRDR participated in the 2025 Young Scientists Tengchong Roundtable. Held under the theme “AI for Regional Sustainability: Young Scientists on the Frontlines”, the event brought together early- and middle-career scientific researchers to build a cross-border and interdisciplinary in-depth dialogue platform to showcase how young scientists utilised artificial intelligence (AI) in their respective research projects and to demonstrate the leading roles of young scientists in the era of AI. Representing IRDR were the Science and Communication Officer, Ms. Kerry-Ann Morris, and the Science Officer, Ms. Fang Lian.

During a segment of the programme dedicated to the young scientists presenting their respective research projects, Ms. Morris delivered a presentation that underscored IRDR’s mission to mobilise science and technology to support inclusive, safe and sustainable development by harnessing technologies, data and knowledge for disaster risk reduction (DRR). This includes the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and for which IRDR has partnered with like-minded research institutes to apply AI to address systemic risks characterised by cascading effects and instability across interconnected systems. Examples include the use of real-time social media analysis for rapid assessment of typhoon and earthquake impacts; and large-language model for DRR. The Science and Communication Officer emphasised that these practical applications demonstrated the power of AI to not only reduce disaster risk but also to build resilience.

Ms. Morris also provided information related to the overall IRDR programme and, with respect to their careers as young scientists, highlighted the opportunity to expand their respective networks through involvement with the IRDR Young Scientists Programme (IRDR YSP). Ms. Lian invited the participants to share their innovations via IRDR Youth Podium and IRDR Young Scientists Lumos, and to be engaged in IRDR YSP for the joint initiatives.

The 2025 Young Scientists Tengchong Roundtable was a sub-forum of the 2025 Tengchong Scientists Forum (2025 TSF), the latter held during the period 5-7 December 2025. The 2025 TSF was held under the theme “Science and Technology Leading the Future”, and aimed to, inter alia, build a globally influential platform for cooperation and exchanges in scientific and technological innovation.

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