As one of the government and research centers affiliated to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, with about 30 years of experience, the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology conducts research and earthquake risk reduction measures in Iran. One of the actions conducted by IIEES in order to present the latest scientific-executive achievements in the field of earthquake risk reduction is to hold an international conference every four years. In this regard, the 8th International Conference on Seismology and Earthquake Engineering held from 11 to 13 November 2019 at the International Conference Center of Shahid Beheshti University with participants from local and foreign organizations and universities.

In this conference, 670 extended abstracts were received, from which, after scientific review, 579 articles were accepted, 547 abstracts from Iran and 32 abstracts from 12 other countries (Algeria, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Japan, Slovenia, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, England, and the USA), 202 papers were selected for oral presentation and 377 papers were selected for poster presentation.

During three days of the event, nine specialized meetings were held as follows:
• Investigating the developments and challenges of risk and crisis management in three decades – Manjil earthquake to Sarpol-e Zahab;
• Lessons learned and challenges of rebuilding, repairing and retrofitting buildings after the Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake;
• Geotechnical and geological aspects in Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake: lessons learned and challenges;
• Earthquake and seaquake risk estimation in Makran subduction zone: achievements, needs and challenges ahead;
• Assessment of needs after the event and initial rehabilitation planning;
• Damage, record, nonlinear models and uncertainty in earthquake engineering applications based on the performance;
• Comprehensive earthquake crisis management plan, case study: Karaj city;
• Resilient structural systems;
• Report by the reconnaissance team of IIEES from the earthquake-affected areas of the earthquake on November 8, 2019, Turkmenchai = 5.9 MW.