Seismologist Earns ASEAN Prize for Quake Work
Hla Hla Aung's printed earthquake guidance for communities is recognized as a model for turning seismic research into regional disaster preparedness.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Geography
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Myanmar seismologist Hla Hla Aung, 79, received the 2026 ASEAN Prize on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at the 49th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines. The award, which includes a trophy and a $20,000 cash prize, recognizes decades of earthquake research and public preparedness work. The prize is an honor for past work and involves no new technology, so the development is shipped in the sense that the award has been conferred.
Why it matters
The regional bloc's recognition signals that disaster risk reduction is being treated as a policy priority across Southeast Asia, where ASEAN now counts 11 member states. Aung's model of converting seismic science into printed material for communities highlights a gap between research output and the preparedness that reaches affected people.
The award is a recognition prize rather than a measured technical result, so no spec or benchmark applies. The verifiable figures are the $20,000 cash award and Aung's status as the ninth recipient of the prize.
The players
Hla Hla Aung
Myanmar seismologist recognized for earthquake studies and disaster risk reduction, and a member of the Myanmar Earthquake Committee.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
President of the Philippines, who presented the ASEAN Prize at the summit's opening ceremony.
Kao Kim Hourn
ASEAN Secretary-General, who presented the ASEAN Prize at the summit's opening ceremony.
The details
Aung, a seismologist, works with the Myanmar Earthquake Committee on research, public education and coordination with disaster management authorities. Her method centers on writing articles about earthquakes and printing them for distribution, traveling to affected places after quakes to hand out written information. The ASEAN Prize was presented at the summit's opening ceremony by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.
Timeline
Sunday, November 15, 2026: Aung receives the 2026 ASEAN Prize at the 49th ASEAN Summit.
The Tech Race
The award places disaster-risk science inside the regional policy agenda rather than in a technology competition, so no competing product or research program is in the source. Its significance lies in linking earthquake research to the preparedness work that ASEAN governments fund and coordinate.
The award does not change any tool or service people use today. Its practical reach is indirect, depending on whether ASEAN members adopt the earthquake-information distribution approach Aung has promoted.
The takeaway
Aung urged ASEAN policymakers to invest in scientific research and make findings accessible to communities, a call that could shape how the bloc funds disaster preparedness. Watch for whether ASEAN disaster management bodies announce programs that put earthquake research into printed or community-facing formats.
Further reading
For more on the science behind this work, explore our Geography coverage.
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