Laos
1. Activities (2018- )
| Month/ Year | Places (Prefecture, etc.) | Activities |
| 2024/02/26 | Saitama & Tochigi   |
The participants visited the Metropolitan Area Outer Discharge Channel, which is designed to reduce flood disasters in the upstream areas from the Edo River to the Tone River. They collected information and exchanged views about its functions, effectiveness and costs about this world’s largest underground flood management facility. They also visited Watase Artificial Wetland, a Ramsar site, to gather information and exchange views about flood control, water supply, history of copper poisoning incident, wetland ecosystem and the role of annual controlled burning practices. |
| 2024/02/19-02/22 | Taiwan      |
The filed study promoted international exchanges for r different disciplines, especially integrated solid waste management, material science, technology innovation for small island economy, and ways to meet sustainable development goals through the collaboration of industry, educational institutions, and local community members. Participants learned from different green technology institutes at Feng Chai University especially related to bioplastics and GIS. They also learned about international platform for biotechnology professionals to share technologies and research achievements through collaboration to develop relevant technologies in the bioenergy sector. |
| 2024/01/31 | Tokyo   |
The participants visited areas in and around Tokyo to learn about flood and disaster preparedness and exchange views. In Tokyo, the participants gathered information about super levees along the Sumida River and the disaster prevention measures. Shioiri Park is located on the super levee that is designed for the evacuation site with emergency camp sites. They also visited Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park in Tokyo Bay to experience disaster measures within 72 hours. Regarding private sector disaster management measure, they observed newly established Azabudai Hills. |
| 2023/12/02, 12/8 | TSUKUBA, Research Institute     |
Tsukuba and received on-site explanations from Dr. Tanaka, an expert on the impact of climate change on beech forests in the area (2 Dec). At the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM), the participants received training on sediment disasters and their countermeasures from Dr. Yamakoshi Director of the Erosion Control Research Office, and toured the experimental facilities. ibid. (8 Dec.). This enabled us to comprehensively enhance our knowledge on climate change issues from three perspectives: forecasting, natural effects (ecosystems) and social effects (disasters). |
| 2023/09/11-09/19 | Netherlands and Germany     |
JDS students visited the cities of Amsterdam and The Hague to discuss the problems posed by climate change, flooding and other disasters to urban functions. They gathered information from discussions with city officials on how to restore canals while preserving their own traditional canal landscapes and on the latest methods of waste disposal in canals. They also visited disaster prevention facilities to protect economic facilities on major rivers from flooding and sea level rise and learnt more about unique technologies. At the same time, information was collected on how to deal with groundwater chlorination. In Delft, they were informed about a sustainable innovation project at the University of Technology called Green Village, which is created from community-industry partnerships, and the development of a geothermal power plant on campus. In addition, they attended a lecture and exchanged views with a representative at the office of the water board, the Netherlands' own water resources management organisation since the Middle Ages. In Rotterdam, information was collected on traditional Dutch water measures. They also visited a floating office and a community project on urban greening and collected information on urban planning while observing the redevelopment of water landscapes. In addition, they visited recycling case studies to hear local opinions. At the Rhine River Commission in Koblenz, researchers from the organisation provided detailed information on the transboundary management system for the entire Rhine River. In Düsseldorf, they visited one of the largest urban greening projects in Germany and saw how trees in huge buildings are managed. Overall, the JDS students gained information on Dutch and German cutting-edge attempts in water management and climate change and urban and rural development, and were able to compare them with examples from their own countries and seek solutions to their own problems. |
| 2023/09/13-09/15 | Osaki Town (Kagoshima)   The length of the text is adjustable |
The participants visited Osaki Town, Kagoshima Prefecture, to learn about thorough resource recycling and circular society (i.e., the Osaki System), which Osaki has progressed through close collaboration among the municipal government, residents, and private companies under their original concept of Circular Village. During the field trip, they visited the final disposal site, organic and non-organic waste recycling facilities, local community waste collection, shochu (distilled spirit) factory, and eel farm. We also had special lectures by local experts from Osaki Town Office and Osaki SDGs Promotion Council. On the last day, the participants presented the characteristics of the Osaki System and the applicability of the system to their home countries. They discussed this with the local experts. |
| 2023/09/10-09/12 | Miyagi and Iwate   |
Participants visited ruins and museums related to the Great East Japan Earthquake in Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures, where they learned about the actual impact of earthquakes and tsunami disasters. They observed the distinctive geographical features of the Tohoku region's Pacific coastal area, which contribute to the expansion of tsunami damage in coastal areas. They also visited Tohoku University and attended a special lecture on the role of the ocean in disasters and abnormal weather. Participants engaged in discussions and exchanged opinions on disaster prevention challenges in various countries around the world. |
| 2023/02/11-02/18 | Kansai (Kyoto・Osaka・Kobe)  |
From February 11 to 18, 2023, the participants attended lectures by three researchers from Kyoto University and Kobe University, and learned academic and practical knowledge on water environment management, wastewater/waste treatment and resource recovery and biomass energy production, organic and smart agriculture through visits to Lake Biwa Museum, Yagi Bioecology Center, Wazuka Town, Kyoto University Graduate School of Agriculture Farm, Lake Biwa/Yodo River Water Quality Conservation Organization, Kobe City Higashinada Treatment Plant and Yuge Farm. Through visits to the Kyoto Graduate School of Agriculture farm, the Lake Biwa-Yodo Water Quality Conservation Organization, the Kobe Higashinada Treatment Plant, and the Yumigake Farm, participants acquired academic and practical knowledge about water environment management, wastewater/waste treatment/resource recovery and biomass energy production, organic farming and smart farming. Finally, through group work and presentations, students gained a deeper understanding of sustainable water environment management, agriculture, and environmental conservation. |
| 2023/01/31-02/03 | Amamiohsima (Kagoshima)   |
The JDS students visited Amami Oshima Island, which will be registered as a World Heritage site in 2021, to gather information and exchange views on the conflict between biodiversity conservation and regional development, the ideal form of ecotourism, future utilization of World Heritage natural resources, and disaster prevention measures in the region. The JDS students first learned about endangered and invasive species on Amami Oshima from local experts. Based on this, they participated in ecotourism through a certification program for guides. At the same time, they learned how to sustain the nature conservation required by the World Heritage registration from the construction administration-oriented economy that has continued for many years since the end of World War II. Furthermore, they gained the ability to analyze how disaster prevention measures due to global warming and typhoons are related to the sustainability of the local economy and environment. |
| 2023/01/25 | Kasaikaihin park・Tokyominatorie・Asakusa・Shioiri park (Tokyo)   |
In this activity, the group visited a Ramsar site in Tokyo to observe species conservation and public access. They also visited a museum to obtain an overall picture of the history of Tokyo's bayfront development and disaster prevention. Furthermore, to learn about the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's disaster prevention activities in the Sumida River basin, they visited super levees, bridges, and disaster prevention equipment to gather information and exchange views on countermeasures against urban disasters. This enabled the JDS students to examine the future of disaster prevention measures in their own countries by comparing them with examples from their own countries. |
| 2022/12/07-12/09 | Kitakyusyu (Hukuoka)   |
During this field study, we visited Kitakyushu Eco-Town and learned about the importance of cooperation between industry, government, and the city. Here, the students learned about recycling technologies for plastic bottles and e-waste. They also learned about wind and solar power generation systems in the Eco-Town complex. They also visited Yamaguchi Dairy's biogas plant, which produces biogas from by-products and waste from the dairy industry and uses it as an energy source for the industry. Finally, the students visited an incineration and resource recovery facility in Shimonoseki City. The students were able to understand the importance of having a life cycle thinking about resource management. |
| 2022/12/06 | Metropolitan Area Outer Discharge Channel (Saitama) and Watarase Wetland (Tochigi)    |
The participants visited the Metropolitan Area Outer Discharge Channel in Saitama Prefecture and Watarase Wetland in border areas of Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, and Saitama prefectures. This training focused on flood control and wetland management in the Kanto region. At the Outer Discharge Channel, the JDS students visited the world's largest underground flood control facility, which is designed to reduce rising water levels in four surrounding rivers. Guided tour gave them detailed information about this facility and its functions. This allowed the JDS students to gather information and exchange opinions on the possibility of organized infrastructure development. At Watarase Wetland, the students learned about the reservoir's role in controlling flooding of the Watarase River, which flows around Furukawa City, to improve water quality, provide water for agriculture and domestic use, and conserve wetlands and birds under the Ramsar Convention. They also gathered information on the damage caused by the 2019 typhoon. In addition, the site's former Yanaka Village was the site of eviction during the Ashio Mine Poisoning Incident at the beginning of the 20th century, allowing the group to gather information and exchange views on the pollution movement in Japan. |
| 2022/11/22 | Yokota farm (Ibaraki)    |
The training on food and agriculture was conducted at Yokota Farm. This smallholder business has cultivated rice in Ibaraki Prefecture for several hundred years. After being incorporated as business entity about ten years ago, Yokota Farm has received Emperor's Award and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Award for its good example in small-scale farming businesses. JDS Fellows visited the farm and collected information from Mr Yokota and his wife on farm management, value chain, food education, measures for abandoned land, and agricultural tourism. They were also able to gather information and exchange opinions on methods of preserving and sorting harvested rice, mechanization, and cost reduction. |
| 2022/09/14-09/16 | Osaki Town (Kagoshima)  |
The participants visited Osaki Town in Kagoshima Prefecture to learn about the formation of a recycle-oriented society. It developed a “Osaki System,” in which general waste materials are thoroughly separated, sorted and recycled. The tour included lectures and discussions by Osaki Town environmental officials (including a JICA-supported project for horizontal deployment in Indonesia) and tours of various facilities (final disposal landfill, recycling facility, general waste incineration facility, and resource waste base collection). The participants also learned about town’s policies to promote youth immigration as part of regional revitalization and regional exchange through recycling. On the final day, the participants made presentations on the challenges and strengths of promoting resource recycling in their home countries under the theme of the applicability of the Osaki system to their home countries, and received advice from Osaki Town officials. |
| 2022/09/06-09/08 | Ryukyu University (Okinawa)  |
The Participants listened to lectures on tropical storms and meteorology by two researchers from Ryukyu University. They visited the Fujukan Museum on the Ryukyu University campus and learned about the relationship between natural disasters and ecosystems. They acquired information about the industry and tourism in the Okinawa Islands through a tour of Shurijo Castle. Based on what they learned, they engaged in group work and deepened their understanding of sustainable development and environmental conservation through presentations and discussions. |
| 2022/08/28-08/31 | Kushiro (Hokkaido)  |
The participants visited the Kushiro Wetland area in Hokkaido to deepen their understanding about marshland ecosystem services, conservation of red-crowned cranes (a national protected species) and rare plants and animals, ecosystem conservation measures through the Old River Restoration Project, and eco-tourism promotion by visiting facilities (Akan International Crane Center, Wildlife Conservation Center, and Kushiro Construction Department of MLIT) and relevant areas. On the last day, the participants presented about the conservation of the Kushiro Marsh ecosystem and lessons learned for environmental conservation, disaster prevention, and industrial promotion in comparison to their home countries. They received advice on their presentations from experts. |
| November/2019 | Kita-Kyushu/Yamaguchi |
This domestic field trip gave our students the opportunity to grasp the latest technological innovations in material recycling and energy recovery efforts in Japan. In Kitakyushu Eco-Town students learned about the integrated recycling complex in the Eco-Town Center and then had the practical visits to the PET bottles and cans recycling facilities. In Yamaguchi Kenraku milk factory the students learned about the fermentation of its organic wastes and by products to produce biogas that is subsequently used to produce steam. The steam is then used as energy input into the milk industry. We also visited Shimonoseki incineration facility and material recovery facility where students strengthened their knowledge about integrated waste management. Finally in Sanyo recycling facility the students could learn about the recycling of fish residue. |
| September/2019 | The Netherlands/Germany |
This field trip aimed to enhance JDS Fellows’ knowledge and insights about agricultural practices, disaster management, and water governance in the Netherlands and Germany. In Amsterdam, the Fellows observed water canals that are important part of city planning and economic development. In Haarlem, the Curuquius museum showed the historic water drainage practices. In Delft, the Fellows observed water drainage practices and dairy farms in polders. They also had seminars with graduate students at the Delft University of Technology. The Fellows then visited the unique storm surge barrier called Maeslantkering at the mouth of the Rhine River (picture) to understand the Delta Work of the Netherlands and the importance of flood protection for the economy. The Fellows then visited Rotterdam to observe the environmental restoration of former development sites and floating forests. They presented about their research topics at the Rotterdam University of Science and Technology and interacted with undergraduate students there. In Germany, the Fellows had a seminar and a short tour about flood management and water governance at the Rhine and the Rhine Commission in Koblenz. Then they went downstream to Cologne for more flood protection practices. |
| August/2019 | Kushiro（Hokkaido） |
Participants visited the Kushiro Wetland National Park area, Hokkaido, the first and largest Ramsar site in Japan, to learn sustainable management of the wetland through wise use of natural resources and ecosystem services in tourism, fisheries and so on. Guided by Mr. Hisashi Shinsho, Chair of Kushiro International Wetland Centre Technical Committee, the participants experienced an adventurous wetland walk, trail walk and river canoeing to learn the unique ecosystems including groundwater flow and the meandering river restoration project in Kushiro Wetland. They also learned about local efforts to wise-use natural resources through discussion with Mr. Takeshi Tosa who is a local fisherman, ecotourism operator and devoted conservation practitioner, conservation research and practice of red crown cranes at Akan International Crane Center and rehabilitation and conservation activities for the local endangered raptor species at Institute for Raptor Biomedicine Japan. |
| August/2019 | Okinawa |
Students visited University of the Ryukyus and attended lectures on tropical cyclone observations, forecast, and disaster prevention. Students also had a short campus tour including a meteorological radar system and university museum. On the following day, the students visited Shurijo Castle Park to learn historical background on the Ryukyus with cultural communications with China and surrounding countries. |
| January/2019 | Kushiro（Hokkaido） |
With sustainable management of Kushiro Wetland as a core topic, students learned about conservation and utilization of natural resources for economy and tourism, river restoration, and endangered wildlife conservation in the Kushiro Wetland area through site visits, lectures and discussion by local experts. |
| November/2018 | Malaysia |
Students participated in the 10th Better Air Quality Conference 2018 (International Conference on Air Quality Improvement) in Kuching, Malaysia. Students learned about the current state of atmospheric environmental problems in developing countries, mainly in the Asian region, and the concepts and efforts concerning air quality management technology and policies. In addition to gaining knowledge listening to lectures and presentations by experts, the students nurtured their problem recognition ability and international communication ability through communicating with the participants at the conference sessions. |
| September/2018 | Okinawa |
This field trip is designed to examine the challenges and possibilities of developments in Okinawa. This area has been one of the most popular tourism destinations in Japan with rich cultural, environmental, and historical heritages. FOCUS: (1) the conservation of local ecology and marine ecology; (2) a historical study about the establishment of Ryukyu culture and impact of World War II on the local environment and economy; (3) historical roots of Japanese-Okinawan relations; and (4) possibilities of future tourism in remote areas |
| July/2018 | Liverpool(UK) |
Visit Liverpool, UK, learn about Mercy River campaign, the pioneering environmental symbiosis city policy in the world. Students learned about water management policy and urban development centering on rivers and considered policy application to their country while comparing their case. |
| May/2018 | China | This international internship to China consisted of three parts. (1) Beijing internship: Field trip to Xiaojiahe Wastewater Treatment Plant (Beijing) and the China-Japan Joint Seminar on Water Environment Technology in Tsinghua University. (2) Tianjin internship: Field trip to the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city and the Symposium on Technological Innovations in Environmental Control and Resources Recovery & Utilization in Nankai University, Tianjin. The two field trips are related with environmental issues and applicable technologies in China, through which the students can know how people are trying their best to make their surroundings more beautiful and sustainable. During the seminars, the students had good chance to communicate with the young generation of scientists and specialists who are contributing themselves to environmental protection and sustainable development in China. (3) 2018 International Students Conference on Environment and Sustainability (ISCES) hosted by the UNEP and Tongji University. The students were offered great opportunities to exchange ideas on the environment and sustainability regarding plastic wastes with fellow students from more than 30 countries. The students also actively participated in the intensive lectures, group discussions, field trips to rural and urban areas, and poster competitions. |
| February/2018 | Kushiro (Hokkaido) |
On the theme of sustainable natural resource utilization, students learned about natural revitalization, tourism use of Kushiro Wetland, rare wildlife conservation in Kushiro Marsh, historical cultural background of nature management, and hotel management using waste heat and agriculture among other topics. |
| February/2018 | Okinawa |
JDS students learned the influence of overuse and climate change on coral reefs, the cultural formation of urban landscape in Okinawa, and the relationship about agriculture and regional promotion. With the cooperation of the University of the Ryukyus, we had the opportunity to attend lectures of researchers at the university and learned the latest research results. |
| February/2018 | Tsukuba (Ibaraki) | Students visited the Center for Genetic Resources, Gene Databank and Agricultural Environment Change Research Center in the Agricultural Research Organization, and learned the latest knowledge on genetic resource recording, preservation technology and soil carbon storage research through lectures and facilities tours. |
| January/2018 | Tokyo | This year JDS students together with 6 professors joined this domestic trip which mainly consisted two activities: (1)visiting to the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation; and (2)surverying the Tokyo bay, especially Odaiba, Hinode, and Asakusa areas. All the participants experienced the advancement of technologies for environmental managemnet in Japan, especially on surface water systems and waste disposal, which is beneficial for the students to obtain the real ideas of betterment of the environment. |
2. Theses
2022
- Nilathsay Vathsouda “Promoting Renewable Energy to Develop a Low Carbon Society in Laos: A Case Study of Spatial Site Selection for Solar Farm in Vientiane Capital “ (ラオスにおける低炭素社会構築のための再生可能エネルギー推進: ビエンチャンにおけるソーラーファームの立地選定に関する事例研究)
- Sengkhamyong Xaysompheng “Assessing the Economic Value of Ecosystem Service Based on Community Perceptions: A Case of the Phou Chom Voy Protected Area, Lao PDR “ (地域住民の認識に基づく生態系サービスの経済価値評価：ラオス・プーチョムボイ保護区の事例)
2021
- NHIAKAO KONGYANG “Cost-benefit Analysis of Small Hydropower Project: A Case Study in Nam Che 1 Hydropower Plant, Thathom District of Laos“ (小規模水力発電プロジェクトの費用便益分析 : ラオス・タトム県ナムチェ1水力発電所の事例研究)
2020
- Khamvene Khampasong “Uncertainty in Future Change in Tropical Cyclone Activity over the Western North Pacific“ (西部北太平洋における熱帯低気圧活動の将来変化の不確実性)
- Phethany Viphanou “Numerical Modeling of Discharge in Se Bang Fai River Basin, Lao PDR“
(ラオス・セバンファイ川流域における河川流出の数値モデリング)
2019
- Phoumma Thilaphone “An Analysis of the National Component for the Mekong Integrated Water Resources Management Project in Lao PDR”
- Vongsouli Panyaphet “Comparative Study on Phosphorus Removal from Wastewater by Using Al2(SO4)3, CaCl2 and FeSO4”
