Sakura Science Exchange Program SAKURA SCIENCE PLAN Activity Report Open Application Program 2018 Production and publication Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Sakura Science Plan Homepage 5-3, Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8666 https://ssp.jst.go.jp/EN/ Tel: +81-3-5214-8288 E-mail: [email protected] Printed in Japan January 2020 Activity Report on Open Application Program 2018 Sakura Science Plan Table of Contents Overview of Open Application Program 2018 P1 Activity Report ● Universities P2 Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Ibaraki University, University of Tsukuba, Niigata University, Nagoya University, Gifu University, Wakayama Medical University, Ritsumeikan University, Yamaguchi University, Ehime University, Kyushu Institute of Technology Activity Report ● Technical Junior College P13 National Institute of Technology, Nagaoka College Activity Report ● High School P14 Nara Women’s University Secondary School Activity Report ● Research Institution P15 Institute of Microbial Chemistry Activity Report ● Association P16 Meijo Hospital Activity Report ● Local Government P17 Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture Activity Report ● Private Company P18 Cathay Tri-Tech., inc. Reference 1. Statistical Data on Open Application Program 2018 P19 2. Results of Participant Survey P22 3. Media Coverage P24 Cover photos 1 ① Kyushu Institute of Technology, August 2018 2 “We Are Tomodachi!” with students of Tsinghua University, China, and Tohoku University Sakura Science Exchange Program SAKURA SCIENCE PLAN Activity Report ② Shibuya Junior & Senior High School, July 2018 Open Application Program 2018 Collaborative experiment with Vietnamese high school students 3 ③ Fukui Prefectural University, November 2018 5 Gathering of algae at sea with Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese university students ④ Osaka Prefecture University, January 2019 Students of Bogor Agricultural University learned how to inspect infected animals 4 ⑤ Kanazawa Institute of Technology, July 2018 Production and publication Students from Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Thailand, aim Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Sakura Science Plan Homepage 5-3, Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8666 https://ssp.jst.go.jp/EN/ Tel: +81-3-5214-8288 E-mail: [email protected] to commercialize a product utilizing Japanese science and technology. Printed in Japan January 2020 Overview of Open Application Program 2018 Sakura Science Plan The Open Application Program of the Sakura 3. Eligibility of Participants Science Plan (Japan–Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science) is a program in which host organizations High school students, university or graduate students, in Japan invite the youth of sending organizations postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, etc., who from foreign countries and regions in Asia and are 40 years old and under, basically visiting Japan for other parts of the world to conduct exchanges in the first time, and having the nationality of the invited the field of science and technology for short countries and regions. periods of time. 4. Three Kinds of Exchange Programs 1. Outline A. Science and Technology Experience Course In the Open Application Program in FY2018, a total of Young people from overseas participate in science and four open calls were held for 41 eligible countries and technology-related exchange programs planned and regions. A total of 5,720 people from 683 sending arranged by a Japanese host organization, the period of organizations visited Japan, and 195 host organizations stay being limited to seven days. The maximum number in Japan cooperated with those sending organizations, of people who can be invited is 10 when invited from a and 570 exchange programs were conducted throughout single organization, and 15 when invited from multiple the year. organizations (not including supervisors in either case). <FY2018 Application, Selection and Implementation Results> B. Collaborative Research Activity Course st nd rd th 1 Call 2 Call 3 Call 4 Call Total Young people from overseas conduct short-term joint No. of organizations* 93 133 95 52 212** Application research activities at a Japanese host organization, the No of applications 196 264 149 79 688 period of stay being limited to three weeks. In principle, No. of organizations* 83 111 77 50 196** the maximum number of people who can be invited is 10 Selection No of applications 147 185 112 59 503 (excluding supervisors). No. of organizations* 195** Implemented C. Science and Technology Training Course No of applications 570*** A Japanese host organization arranges for young people * Number of host organizations in Japan ** Total number of institutions is that after excluding duplicate applications from overseas to participate in training, conducted by from same institution that organization, to intensively acquire a variety of *** T otal number implemented reflects number of withdrawals after selection and number of implementations in FY2018 that were applied for multiple science and technology-related skills, the period of stay previous years being limited to 10 days. The maximum number of people who can be invited is 15 when invited from a 2. Countries and Regions Eligible for Sakura Science Plan in FY2018 single organization, and 25 when invited from multiple organizations (not including supervisors in either case). <Outline of Implementation by Course> No. of Programs No. of Participants Course A 420 4,447 people Course B 72 433 people Course C 78 840 people Total 570 5,720 people East Asia 4 countries/regions 2,527 people Southeast Asia 11 countries 2,376 people Southwest Asia 7 countries 658 people Central Asia 5 countries 51 people Pacific Island Countries 8 countries 14 people Other regions 6 countries 94 people High school students from the Philippines experience what it is like to wear a kimono. * Please refer to page 19 for more details. (On program arranged by Hiroshima International Center, June 2018) 1 Activity Report (From receiving organizations) Research with Young Chinese Researchers for Effective Utilization of Livestock Biomass Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (Course A) August 19th to 25th, 2018 Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine invited a total of 11 people—the vice director, an associate professor, five young researchers and four graduate students—from China Agricultural University (in Beijing) and that university’s Yantai Research Institute. China Agricultural University and the Umetsu Research Laboratory at the Division of Environmental and Agricultural Engineering at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine are together conducting research into biomass that makes use of livestock biomass. The purpose of extending this invitation was to exchange the findings of the research conducted at both universities relating to the effective use of livestock biomass. In China, the numbers of livestock are increasing rapidly, and Touring a biogas plant environmental pollution due to manure is becoming an urgent issue. Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, however, has a track record in the effective utilization of livestock biomass, especially in experimental studies involving biogas plant systems. Moreover, the Tokachi area is home to many of the largest biogas plants in Japan, backed by its vast animal husbandry area. The actual program started on Day 2, when Prof. Kazutaka Umetsu of Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine and Associate Prof. Qiao Wei of China Agricultural University reported and exchanged their opinions on the respective current situations and issues with regard to livestock biomass research in Japan and China. From Day 3 onward, the group toured several biogas plants (Hokkaido A heated general discussion Shikaoi Town Environmental Conservation Center, Shihoro Town Biogas Plant, Kushiro Town Nomura Farm Biogas Plant) that have been built in the area of eastern Hokkaido, where they learned about, for example, the features of the plants and operating techniques in a cold region with heavy snow accumulations. They also visited milking robots that are being utilized on the actual front line of animal husbandry. Sadao Kikuchi, representative director of Hokkaido Biomass Research, Inc., gave a lecture entitled The Current Status of Biogas Plants in Hokkaido, while discussions covered reports of the recent research results from both universities and also centered on their students. On Day 6, following a results report and general discussion of the four- day program, Prof. Umetsu presented the participants with certificates of completion, and the program was successfully brought to a close. Commemorative photo with completion certificates in hand Inspiration for Ongoing Research Exchanges Schedule Program Location Through this exchange, both universities were able to share issues Day 1 Arrival in Japan related to livestock waste, such as soil pollution due to organic matter Orientation after livestock waste treatment, the bacteria and drug-resistant Lecture/Discussion: Reports and Obihiro University bacteria contained in the organic matter, and especially about the Day 2 exchange of opinions relating to of Agriculture and agriculture in Japan, Hokkaido and Veterinary Medicine serious water pollution in China. In addition, participants learned that China biogas plants are very effective in solving these problems and deepened Lecture: Reports from Japanese researchers Day 3 As above their awareness that they represent a