The Wild & Wise Collaborative Learning Program
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University
For Students at Selected Foreign Universities

Flyer (PDF 972KB).

The “Top Global University Project” of Kyoto University invites graduate students to apply for a scholarship for short-term study at Kyoto University. The selected students will join the International Autumn School for Environmental Studies 2018 Program at the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES) with participants from various countries.

– Application is closed –

Application through the website must be completed by 23:59, 29 July, Japanese time. For applicants who pass the documentation screening and interview examination, all original documents for items 2-6 must be submitted by registered airmail or EMS/DHL/FEDEX by 30 August 2018 (normally DHL, FEDEX takes 2-3 days, EMS 2 days to 1 week, Airmail takes 1-2 weeks to Japan). At this time, we will request submission of confirmation letters and passport copies.

– Application is closed –

^*1Applicant must belong to a master’s or doctoral program at one of the designated universities. Applicants who work as lecturers for a designated university but are studying at a non-designated university graduate program may not apply. Post-doctoral researchers, and research students are not eligible for this program.

We encourage students with high academic capability and an interest in international academic exchange to apply for this scholarship program.

July 10^th, 2018

Prof. Shinya Funakawa
Dean, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University

International Autumn School for Environmental Studies 2018

Program in brief

1. The program begins by sharing information about each participants’ country of origin through the country-specific topics of Forestry and forest resource management), waste management, water treatment, agriculture, and natural disasters.
2. After learning about the current issues for these topics in participants’ home countries, participants will experience and deepen their understanding about issues in Japan via a lecture series and extensive field studies. In addition, we will study about the atmospheric environment in each country and Japan through a special seminar on atmospheric chemistry.
3. At the end of the program, participants will make final presentations on the current achievements and challenges of each country in these study areas by integrating what you have learned throughout the program. This final presentation will be followed by a discussion of future activities or approaches that may help to mitigate or solve the sustainability challenges unique to each of the participants’ countries.

Schedule in 2018

20^th October (Sat.)

Arrival in Kyoto

21^st October (Sun.)

Kick-off seminar for International Autumn School ^{*Contents 1}

22^nd October (Mon.)

Special lecture series

23^rd October (Tue.) –
26^th (Fri.)

Field study in Mie and Wakayama ^{*Contents 2}

27^th October (Sat.)

Kyoto city cultural tour

28^th October (Sun.)

Interim preparation for final seminar

29^th October (Mon.) –
30^th (Tue.)

Atmospheric chemistry special seminar ^{*Contents 3}

31^st October (Wed.)

Field study in Kyoto ^{*contents 4}

1^st November (Thu.) –
3^rd (Sat.)

Field study in Shiga ^{*contents 5}

4^th November (Sun.)

Preparation for final seminar

5^th November (Mon.)

Final seminar of International Autumn School

6^th November (Tue.)

Departure from Kyoto

Contents

1. Special lecture series of International Autumn School

This lecture series provide you with basic and essential information to understand about forestry and forest resource management, solid waste management, water treatment, “Agriculture”, and “Natural disaster” in Japan for better understandings at the field study in each place. The tentative lecture schedule is as follows:

2. Field study on forests, agriculture and natural disasters in Mie and Wakayama (23^rd – 26^th October)

In this tour, we will visit an area called Ki no Kuni (紀伊国), which means “country of wood,” in Mie and Wakayama. This field study and lecture will instruct about cultural-traditional usage of timbers for shrines at Ise-Shrine and forest management and forestry challenges in Japan by visiting a private company. In addition, we will observe other type of agro-forest usage, such as mandarin orange and charcoal production in local villages to explore the actual conditions in rural areas from an agricultural perspective (soil science and ecology). Moreover, we will visit places that have been affected by natural disasters (flooding, landslides, earthquakes, and tsunami) in the past and learn about natural disaster risks and preparedness in Japan.

3. Gain expertise about the atmosphere (29^th – 30^th October)

We will provide a special seminar on atmospheric chemistry that includes:

1. Air pollution studies
   ・Kinetic study for NOx and ozone reaction
   ・Field observation of air quality in Kyoto
2. Aerosol formation experiments
   ・Secondary organic aerosols from ozonolysis
   ・Aerosols from plant emissions
3. The global atmospheric environment

4. Field study on waste disposal in Kyoto (31^st October)

A one-day trip will bring you around Kyoto city with the focus on solid waste issues. The trip will include visits to an incineration plant, a final disposal site, a Japanese private company (Beverage Manufacturer* not fixed), and a Kyo-machiya wooden house to learn about Kyoto traditional lifestyles. Through the visits, we can learn about solid waste, local treatment systems, residents’ awareness, and efforts by private companies for Zero emissions and 4R.

5. Field study on water and water treatment systems around Lake Biwa in Shiga (1^st – 3^rd November)

A three-day field visit course will take us around Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, to investigate people’s lives, environment, and water. First, we will move to Shiga prefecture and visit a famous confectionary factory that has been active in environmental conservation and rural development. In the afternoon, we will visit a wastewater treatment plant to learn about state-of the-art technology for wastewater treatment. The next day, we will visit the Lake Biwa Museum to learn about natural history, people’s lives and environmental conservation measures to rehabilitate the lake, which was once threatened by eutrophication. In the afternoon, we will see and learn the rain water/road water treatment system which has been researched by GSGES lecturers and students. On the third day, we will visit a lakeside district named Harie to learn about the natural spring water utilization system in the local community (active eco-tourism).

Assignment/preparation after acceptance

Through this program, we would like all the participants to learn from each other concerning the topics of forestry and forest resource management, solid waste management, water treatment, agriculture, natural disasters and the atmospheric environment. For better understanding of these topics in participants’ countries and in Japan, we request that you investigate conditions related to the topics above in your home country and your hometown in advance. You will present what you have learned to other participants on 21^st October 2018, at the kick-off seminar of the International Autumn School (prepare a pptp file or PDF file, 15 min./person). You will also be expected to present about air pollution conditions in your home country or province during the atmospheric chemistry seminars held on 29th-30th October (prepare 1-3 PPT slides or a PDF file). Please present in English with referencing of data.

Important Notice

There may be some subsequent schedule and content changes. We apologize for any inconvenience. We will inform you immediately of major changes.