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The 3rd Annual Hokkaido University Sustainability Research Poster Contest was held in the Conference Hall on October 26th and November 2nd. This contest has become known as part of the annual Sustainability Weeks event hosted by Hokkaido University.
The contest offers all Hokkaido University students an opportunity to review their current research projects from the viewpoint of creating a sustainable society. Students are also encouraged to give simple explanations so that people from different fields of study
will be able to easily understand significances of their research. Compared to last year, 16 more teams participated, making 92 teams in total. All participating students worked hard to reconsider how their research is connected to the creation of a sustainable society, which is an issue with global impact. Students made their submissions in one of six categories, depending on how their research will be able to contribute to sustainability. The posters from Category 1 to 3 were exhibited during the first week, and the ones of Category 4 to 6 during the second week. On the day of the contest, students gave presentations, standing by their posters. Each poster and presentation was scored by 5 judges: 3 faculty members and 2 students, with a total possible score of 375. 77 faculty members and 89 students, who were also presenters, participated as judges. As in the previous year, the judges examined posters relating to disciplines outside their own areas of expertise.
The award ceremony was held on November 7th in the Conference Hall. Six outstanding students received the HU Sustainability Research Poster Award.
Questionnaires distributed at the event indicate that both students and faculty members enjoyed the contest.
< Comments from students>
*I was able to define the goal of my research by explaining it to researchers from different areas of expertise.
*It was meaningful for me to be able to interact with researchers from other areas and find that they used similar approaches in their research.
*It was a great experience since I rarely have chance to give English presentations in Japan. I want to improve my English abilities.
*I appreciated the valuable advice from researchers from various backgrounds. It was such a great experience that I would like to participate again next year.
<Comments from faculty members>
* The contest was a great chance for us to see a snapshot of the various kinds of research going on at HU. It was also good that the posters were categorized according to the subjects of the research.
*It was a significant opportunity for researchers because they were able to interact with people from various fields.
* The contest offers a chance for students to practice giving simple explanations to researchers from different areas of expertise. I think it is meaningful from an educational perspective.
* I found the presentations fascinating. Above all, I really enjoyed listening to them.
A student from the University of Iceland participated in this year’s contest. He studies at Hokkaido University through a short-term study abroad program. The contest will be reorganized next year in such a way as to attract more participants from overseas universities, especially from HU partner institutions. The Sustainability Research Poster Contest is expected to develop and play a role as an international platform for researchers to network, as well as a place where researchers from various fields can gather and cooperate.
<Number of Participants>
*Graduate Students
Environmental Sci.:40, Health Sci.:20, Engineering:14, Agriculture: 6, Chemical Sci. &Engineering:4, Economics and Business Administration: 3, Media, Communication, and Tourism Studies: 2, Life Sci.:2, Medicine: 2, Education: 1
*Undergraduate students
Economics and Administration: 6, Medicine:2, Engineering:1
<Award Winners>
Award Winners Category 1: Living in Risks
Pedcris M. Orencio (M2), Graduate School of Environmental Science
Category2: Quality of Life
Risa Takashima (D2), Graduate School of Health Sciences
Category3: Sustainable Production & Consumption
John Nogy Kaalenga (M2), Graduation School of Economics and Business Administration
Category4: Mitigation and Adaptation for Climate and natural Environment Change
Teruaki Yuta (D2), Graduate School of Environmental Science
Category5: Natural Resource Management
Yuki Miura (D2), Graduate School of Environmental Science
Category6: Rural & Urban Development
Megumi Tazawa (M1), Graduate School of Engineering
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Sustainability Weeks 2011 Events and Activities
Hokkaido Univ. Sustainability Research Poster Contest
