Rafi Ahmad of the Unit for Disaster Studies, Department of Geography and Geology is one of the recipients of the UN Sasakawa Certificate of Distinction Award for Disaster Reduction. The Awards were announced on October 8, the International Day for Disaster Reduction. The Award Ceremony will take place on October 16 in Bonn Germany. Mr. Ahmad is being recognized for his contributions to the Jamaican Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management which includes the study of natural hazards in Jamaica and the development of hazard maps. In July 2003 his expertise on landslide hazard reduction in the Caribbean was recognized and rewarded by the International Landslide research Group.