In the Tohoku region, earthquakes centered in the waters off Miyagi Prefecture occur in periodic intervals. Tohoku University has conducted studies on disaster prevention to be prepared for these earthquakes. However, the Great East Japan Earthquake revealed the weaknesses and limitations of conventional scientific and technological systems.

As a global research center for Disaster Science, Tohoku University established the International Research Institute of Disaster Science -IRIDeS-. The IRIDeS will create a new discipline of practical disaster mitigation which can be useful in a real-life situation, though seeking and offering solutions to a variety of problems that the disaster-affected areas have.