Spring 2020 A news magazine presented by Hokkaido University Litterae Populi Spring 2020 01 Recent News from Hokkaido University Contents 03 Feature: Nurture 04 University Library 10 Center for Natural Hazards Research 12 International Internship Program 14 Talking with a pioneer Akira Suzuki University Professor, Professor Emeritus Litterae Populi Litterae Populi is a bi-annual magazine with the latest news about Hokkaido 20 Refining: Earth and Planetary Science University. Its name is Latin for “letters Yukihiro Takahashi of the poplar trees.” Professor, Faculty of Science 22 Alumni Interview Tadahisa Fujimura Executive Director Hokkaido Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (HTB) Feature: 24 Letters from Ambassadors and Partners Nurture 26 140 Years of Challenge Hokkaido University will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its foundation in 2026. Topics 28 The university has followed its basic philosophy since the opening of its predecessor, Sapporo Agricultural College, and Campus Landscapes 30 has produced a wealth of talent who have played active roles around the world over its long history. Under the theme of “nurture,” this feature highlights three initiatives undertaken to fulfill the university’s missions— namely, education, research and regional contribution. Litterae Populi Spring 2020 Published by Public Relations Division Kita 8, Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0808, JAPAN. [email protected] https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp Edited by the Litterae Populi Planning and Editing Team Cover photo by Akihito Yamamoto (HARE-BARE SHA-SHINN) Photos by Hiromi Terashima (Kotoha-sha) Production assisted by Morikatsu Sato (Morikatsu Sato Design Office) Printing by Iword Co., Ltd. Photo of the Hokkaido University Museum Cover photo taken at Furukawa Hall 02 Litterae Populi Spring 2020 Litterae Populi Spring 2020 03 Base for the exchange and creation of knowledge Reading room on the fourth floor of the Central Library. University library where knowledge is accumulated. The library serves as a place for the exchange and creation of knowledge through learning support for students, preservation and presentation of the university’s research results, support for lifelong education of the University Library general public and other activities. 04 Litterae Populi Spring 2020 Litterae Populi Spring 2020 05 Nurture | University Library Feature: Nurture The English Tadoku (extensive reading) which has been operated since 2006, makes academic papers Marathon is a project enabling students and other documents written by researchers, graduate school to learn English while having fun. Each students and other members of the university accessible to participant reads English books at his/her the public by making them available online. The number own pace and records the book titles, number of documents available is approximately 63,000 and the of words and other details in the system with total number of downloads has reached approximately 78 the goal of reading one million English million. “I firmly believe that the library’s role as a base words. This improves the motivation of of knowledge and a supporter for the accumulation and participants, with graphs of the total number creation of knowledge will become even more important of words read and rankings that can be seen in the future, considering that the sharing of knowledge at a glance. The total number of participants as open science will raise the standard of knowledge across since the launch of the project in AY 2013 has society and lead to the creation of innovations,” says Ko reached 1,780, with 322 participating in AY Hasegawa, Executive Vice President & Director of the 2019. So far, 36 students have read more than University Library. one million words. The Central Library, the There is also an attempt being made to establish a North Library and the library of the School system that enables the management and presentation of the of Fisheries Sciences have English Tadoku university’s research data jointly with the National Institute Kyozai (graded English readers) sections to of Informatics. As “it truly represents the enterprising spirit provide an environment where students can of the Hokkaido University Library, for its contribution start extensive English reading easily and at as a new open science to the enhancement of knowledge any time. functions that should be provided by the library” according The University Library also focuses to Hasegawa, expectations for its future development of on information literacy education. It the system are high. To ensure substantial education and offers education to improve information research support, the library staff themselves must improve collection skills through programs such as Introduction to Library Information classes for first-year undergraduate students and the Literature Collection Seminar for third- year undergraduate and first-year master’s students. The library is also active in the digitization of library materials in cooperation with the Students studying in the Global Floor on the third floor of the North Library. Accessibility Services Office of the Student Advice and Counseling Center, and had digitized approximately 400 items by the end of AY 2018, to ensure that students who have difficulty in reading due A library with 6,149 books was established at the same time contribution and internationalization while improving its to visual, physical and other impediments have the “right to as the opening of Sapporo Agricultural College in 1876. support for education, learning and research. The library is read.” This is where the history of the Hokkaido University Library making various efforts to fulfill its mission during this time Such education and learning support activities are also began. The first director was Nitobe Inazo. The tile-roofed in which there is a growing tendency for university students linked with the support for active learning that is emphasized “Karafuto Nayoro Souotona Monjyo (Yaenkoro Ainu Monjyo)” (collection of scrolls containing records of the Karafuto Ainu, replica.) white library building (currently registered as a tangible to not read books and society is becoming increasingly in university education, and provide the support necessary Also available through the Northern Studies Collection Database (in Japanese cultural asset by the national government) constructed in information-intensive and digitized. for students to pursue learning by doing their own research only) on the Library website. 1903 was used until 1965 when the current Central Library and autonomously performing the preparation of reports/ was built. In 1969, the Branch of General Education (present Nurturing students theses and other processes. Environments for discussions North Library) was newly built. and joint projects among students, such as the open area The library was renamed the Hokkaido University One important role of the University Library is to provide and media court in the Central Library as well as the active Library in 1947 after World War II. The library currently support for education and learning. The library is conducting learning floor and global floor in the North Library, are manages the Central Library near the front gate of the various projects and seminars in cooperation with other also available. The library provides support for nurturing Sapporo Campus, the North Library near the Institute for departments in the university. students and enabling them to learn and independently Advancement of Higher Education and 16 departmental The Academic Skill Seminar offers seminars and solve challenges, while complementing classroom lessons. libraries in departments, faculties and research centers, supplementary classes for undergraduate students in which house approximately 3.78 million books and 55,000 cooperation with the Learning Support Office, which Knowledge sharing electronic books/journals in total. provides learning support and career consultation for Based on the university’s four basic philosophies students. One of its programs, the Study Skill Seminar Another important role of the library is to preserve the results of “Frontier Spirit,” “Global Perspectives,” “All-round aimed at teaching new students how to take classes and of the university’s education and research activities and Education” and “Practical Learning,” the mission of write reports, was held 34 times in AY 2018, with a total broadly share them with society. The Hokkaido University Northern Studies Collection reading room of the Central Library. The collection displayed in this room includes books written by Takeshiro the Hokkaido University Library is to promote social participation of 520 students. Collection of Scholarly and Academic Papers (HUSCAP), Matsuura, who gave Hokkaido its name. 06 Litterae Populi Spring 2020 Litterae Populi Spring 2020 07 Nurture | University Library Feature: Nurture Also serving as the leader library of the Open through cooperation among the University Library, Access Committee established in the Japan Archives, Museum and Botanic Garden. Association of National University Libraries, the Hokkaido University Library is expected to play a Together with the local community leading role in the promotion of progress in open science and open access by university libraries. Dissemination of knowledge to the local community is not only being carried out through the display of materials. Identity of Hokkaido University The University Library also holds a variety of events for the general public. In August