【School】Report of International Winter School　2015

International Winter School 2014 was held at Hokkaido University during January 6-8th, 2015.

18 Students( Almost international students of Hokkaido Univ.) Participated in this course and 9 academic staffs (Hokkaido University,Rakuno Gakuen University,Hiroshima University, Doshisya University) gave lectures.

This intensive three-day course focused on environmental and social issues caused by changes in land systems. The goal of this winter school was to obtain scientific knowledge and learn various methods to solve these issues, to find their own research questions, and to extend their ability needed for discussion through lectures, work sessions, and excursions.

Unfortunately, Field trip to Tomakomai experimental forest in the second day of this course was canceled by strong wind and heavy snow.

However, referring the knowledge which they got from this course, We discussed following question from the different points of view. i.e. as a scientist,as a citizen,as a decision maker.

"What can we do for sustainable society under changing land system?"

Through group discussion, They proposed meaningful thoughts like "It will be needed to research project based on citizen's aspect","Various stakeholder should be joined to decision making process","It is a challenge to get a budget of holistic research or civic activities".

These are related to the under discussing theme of Future Earth program (http://www.futureearth.org/).

We do hope that participants could contribute the research of Future Earth program and Sustainable society.

This course was organized by Global Land Project (GLP) Sapporo Nodal Office based at Hokkaido University.

January 6th (Tuesday)

6 professors gave following lectures.

Professor Lecture topics

Takashi Kohyama Plant ecology

Karibui Fukuzawa Ecosystem ecology

Hideaki Shibata Nitrogen footprint

Nobuhiko Yoshimura GIS analysis of ecosystem services

Rachmad Firdaus Watershed sustainability

January 7th (Wednesday) Canceled because of bad weather