Sustainability Weeks 2011 Events and Activities
Northern Environmental Research Symposium
Overview
| Date | Monday, 31 October, 2011 Start at 10:00 (Finished) |
| Organizer |
The Finnish Institute in Japan Hokkaido Office |
| Co-host |
Institute of Low Temperature Science |
| Venue | Hokkaido University Conference Hall |
- Language:Japanese/English (Translation will be provided)
- Intended Audience:Researchers, General public, College Students, High School Students
| Outline |
The Northern Environment faces rapid changes due to global warming! Multinational efforts are needed for establishing a strong cooperation across the borders. Changes in people’s lifestyle and creating new tourist attractions may cause biodiversity. Let’s make the cooperation between Finland and Hokkaido moreover strengthen. We warmly welcome students and young researchers challenging to solve the problems in the Northern Environment. Check Agenda for more details. This is an event of “Hokkaido-Finland, A Bridge for Northern Cooperation“. |
| Registration | Not-required. |
| Fees | Free |
| Contact |
The Finnish Institute in Japan Hokkaido Office Contact: Tyriseva Martina TEL: +81-(0)11-726-2000 FAX: +81-(0)11-726-2005 E-mail: martina.tyriseva@finstitute.gr.jp |
Report
| The 3rd Northern Environmental Research Symposium was held during the Hokkaido-Finland Days. In the past, the Joint Japanese-Finnish Seminar on Northern Environmental Research was held in 2008 at Finland’s Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland, and the second seminar was held in 2009 at Hokkaido University. These past events involved discussions on the continuity of joint research by institutions in Hokkaido and Finland and the feasibility of future research planning with a focus on the environments of northern regions, which have undergone rapid changes due to global warming. This symposium addressed research fields in which Finland and Hokkaido can work together regarding the environmental impacts of rapid climate change in northern regions. The event consisted of a keynote lecture, three sessions and a discussion. First, H. E. Hannu Halinen, Finnish Ambassador for the Arctic, delivered a keynote lecture with the title Cooperation in the Arctic: Finland’s Arctic Policy, outlining Finland’s approach to Arctic research among other topics. Next, Dr. Kari Laine from the University of Oulu detailed research and educational approaches to northern environments (the theme of the symposium), highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary joint research. In the three subsequent sessions, three presentations were made in Session 1 (theme: ice and climate change), five in Session 2.1 (theme: biodiversity and environmental protection in northern regions) and two in Session 2.2 (theme: environmental protection transcending borders). In the concluding session, one presentation was made. Sessions 1 and 2.1 focused on the status of progress and the outcomes of joint research programs proposed at previous seminars, as well as on the schedules and possibilities of future joint research activities. In Session 2.2 and the concluding session, research themes in need of joint promotion were proposed, and related discussions included the framework to be established  for specific collaborative systems. The success of the symposium highlighted the strong desire of Finnish universities to work with their counterparts in Hokkaido, centering on Hokkaido University. In particular, HU’s establishment of an office on the University of Helsinki’s campus is expected to boost collaborative efforts by Finland and Hokkaido toward the resolution of northern issues. |
