Department of Culture has conducted three days training titled “Training of Trainers on Seismic Diagnosis and Retrofitting of Masonry Structures in Bhutan” from12 to 14 October 2021. Two engineers each from five Dzongkhags (Thimphu, Paro, Wangduephodrang, Punakha and Haa) have attended the training. The training program was conducted as a part of dissemination program in seismic technology for strengthening composite masonry buildings in Bhutan under the SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) project. The training was also aimed to train and recognize participants as trainer for future dissemination and capacity programs at the local government level. The participants were introduced to various retrofitting methods practiced worldwide, in Japan and also those methods which have been explored and tested under SATREPS project. The participants also carried out hands-on exercise to calculate the seismic diagnosis of the traditional building.

Resource persons of the training were Mr. Pema, Executive Engineer and Dr. Phuntsho Wangmo, Dy. Executive Engineer from Department of Culture. Takayoshi Aoki, Professor of Nagoya City University and Mitsuhiro Miyamoto, Associate Professor of Kagawa University from Japan joined the training virtually, who were also the trainers.