Principal of Khwopa Engineering College Er. Sujan Maka and Principal of Khwopa College of Engineering Er. Sunil Duwal hosted a meeting with a team of international researchers at the college on Jestha 12. The researcher team consisted of Dr. Paul W Burton, Emeritus Reader at the University of East Anglia, UK, Dr. Giorgia Giardina, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands, Dr. Micheal Whitworth, Associate Director at AECOM Consulting Firm, and Dr. Valentina Macchiarulo, Postdoc Researcher, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. They were welcomed to the college premises by Dr. Manjip Shakya, HoD, Postgraduate Department of Earthquake Engineering. There were discussions regarding earthquakes and different geo-disaster in Nepal and how further research could be conducted in these fields. The possibility of future collaborations between Khowpa and different universities was also discussed. The team visited the college premises and observed MEQ students conducting experiments. Coordinator of R&D Unit, Dr. Subeg Bijukchhen and Research Assistant Er. Sasin Prajapati were also present at the meeting.
The researchers are members of the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT), a joint venture of universities and industries that conducts field investigations following any major earthquakes. The researchers visited Nepal after the 2072 Gorkha Earthquake to study the damage to monuments and structures and this visit was to follow up on the post-earthquake constructions of those monuments and structures. After the meeting, the team visited different sites in Bhaktapur as part of the field investigation.