In 1998, the Centre was renamed to Natural Disasters Research and Study Centre. As a response to a national need in conducting research on natural disasters, the Centre's statute was revised in 2003. Following the permit issued by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and approved by the Higher Education Development Council, the Centre was transformed to the Natural Disasters Research Institute to address these goals:
1. Development and promotion of research in the field of natural disasters
2. Promoting the relevant research activities
At present, the Institute consists of six research groups, i.e. Crisis Management Research Group, Environmental Hazards and Meteorological Disasters Research Group, Structural Retrofitting and Reconstruction Research Group, Geological Hazards Research Group, Hydrological Hazards Research Group, and Post-disaster Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Research Group. There are also affiliation units, including the UNESCO Chair on Natural Disasters Management, Centre of Applied Science, Journal of Housing and Rural Environment, Natural Disasters Technology Start-up Incubator, International Center for Urban Resilience Research (ICURR), Innovation and Future Study Think Tank in Crisis Management, Rural Development Research Centre, Vulnerable and Distressed Urban Areas Research Centre.

The SCWMRI proudly recognized as the focal institute in watershed management in Iran, enjoys having cooperation of 160 academic and scientific staff, researchers, professional engineers and qualified technicians carrying out applied researches in the above-mentioned fields. There are 26 provincial divisions and 37 research stations conducting pilot projects across the country.

Research Objectives

• To identify and prioritize research needs in the fields of soil conservation and watershed management in the country,
• Providing research project on natural related disaster such as mass movement, flood and debris flow.
• Providing required facilities for research activities related to soil conservation and watershed management,
• Expansion of fundamental and applied researches in the fields of soil conservation and watershed management,
• Identifying issues, obtaining, creating, processing and dissemination of technologies applied to enhance research activities on soil conservation and watershed management,
• Development of new methods to promote indigenous knowledge and technologies for local soil conservation and watershed management practices,
• Commercializing research achievements related to soil conservation and watershed management,
• Providing advisory services to real and legal individuals based on the research achievements and scientific activities conducted by the Institute,

Many regions of the world are increasingly facing challenges when it comes to management of resources and environmental changes and finding solutions for those related problems. The nature of these challenges differs from one location to another. Environmental changes which result in floods and droughts as well as long term impacts of climate change on different elements of environment can cause significant economic losses to various regions and nations and also increase the risk of disasters. We plan to establish a specific institute on disaster risk management and environmental changes in 2019, but by then all activities are at UTCAN level.

• To promote scientific research on the issues and problems related to disaster management and environmental changes.

• To create and reinforce networks for the exchange of scientific, technical and policy information on disaster and environmental issues among the institutions and individuals in the region and in other countries.
• To develop and coordinate cooperative research activities on disaster management and environmental issues, taking advantage particularly of the installed scientific and professional capacity of the region and non-governmental organizations.
• To organize knowledge and information transfer activities on the subject, including international training courses, symposia or workshops, and to engage in appropriate awareness raising activities.
• To develop a strong program of information and communication technology to further objectives.
• To provide technical consulting and advisory services in the region and beyond as required.

To produce technical publications and other media items related to the activities