From 30 November through 2 December, Kyoto University and Bogor Agricultural University (Institut Pertanian Bogor, or IPB) held the "International Symposium on Education and Research in Global Environmental Studies in Asia" in Bogor, Indonesia.
The event was organized as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of Japan-Indonesia diplomatic relations, with sponsorship from the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), and the Japan Student Service Organization (JASSO), and funding from JSPS and Japan's science and education ministry MEXT. Attendance totaled 195 and represented nine Asian countries: 161 researchers and students from 19 universities, and 34 representatives of other organizations.
The Symposium opened with an address from IPB Vice Rector Dodik Ridho Nurrochmat, followed by six sub-sessions and a tour of the Bogor Botanical Gardens.
The day-two afternoon featured a plenary session on international education and research collaboration in Asia. Opening remarks from IPB Rector Arif Satria and KyotoU President Juichi Yamagiwa were followed by a congratulatory address from Mr Keiichi Yamaguchi, first secretary at the Embassy of Japan. Two signing ceremonies then took place, one for an extension of the KyotoU-IPB academic MoU, and another for the establishment of a double-degree program between Kyoto University and Tsinghua University, China.
The plenary session was comprised of two keynote lectures and several research presentations on environmental studies, the latter delivered by students and early-career scholars. The keynote speakers were Professor Ernan Rustiadi, head of the IPB Center for Regional System Analysis, Planning and Development (CrestPent), and Professor Eiji Nawata, dean of the KyotoU Graduate School of Agriculture. The session closed with remarks from IPB Rector Arif Satria, and Professor Shigeo Fujii of the KyotoU Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES).
The three-day event wrapped up on 2 December with two study tours: one featuring the Gunung Halimun National Park, and the other, Prasadha Pamunah Limbah Industri (PPLi), a waste disposal company.
During the Symposium, President Yamagiwa and several other KyotoU officials paid a courtesy visit to the IPB Rector. The same period also saw two related events being held with great success: a Kyoto University Indonesian Alumni Meeting, attended by 110 members, and the Study-in-Kyoto-and-Bogor Fair, which attracted 200 students from local universities and high schools.
Signing ceremony between Kyoto University and IPB
Courtesy visit to the IPB Rector
Research presentation by a student
Lively discussion during poster presentations
Symposium participants and attendees
