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FOLENS Seminar January 2012: Sustainable Energy Strategies – Follow-up for Iida/Ina Field Trip: Reflection, Presentation, and Discussion
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| “Is localization a key for sustainable energy strategies?” – Advantages and Challenges | Discussion with drinks and snacks – New-year party! |
Presentation by students on relationship between their research and energy isssues |
We held the first FOLENS seminar in 2012 on 11 January, as a follow-up for the field trip to Iida and Ina in December. Unfortunately only six students participated, but being a small group we could have active and substantial discussion.
First, we went through slides to reflect on our December trip titled “Sustainable energy strategies: Challenges of local communities for local energy generation for local consumption”. This also let those students who did not attend the trip follow and understand the experiences.
After that, three students presented how their research topics relate to energy issues. Naotaka from Department of Natural Resources and Eco-materials reported the problems Japanese forest and forestry are facing and the possible utilization of forest materials as domestic biomass energy resources. Antonio, from Department of International Environmental and Agricultural Science, introduced his case study of environmental impacts on soil and vegetation caused by livestock in Southern Mozambique. He explained his ideas to utilize grasses as a biomass energy resource as a solution to the problems of grassland burning in the area, and also to utilize livestock manure for creating energy. Win Win, also from Department of International Environmental and Agricultural Science, presented her research of impacts caused by thermal effects of ground source heat pumps on soil properties. Each presentation was followed by an active Q&A session. Through discussions, we could recognize two important points: 1) For understanding and tackling energy issues, a variety of view points and research activities are necessary; and 2) Each research focus forms actually just a small portion of a large framework of energy issues, therefore it is important for us to keep connecting with various other researches and initiatives in a society.
Finally, we enjoyed a discussion and a small new-year party with drinks and snacks. Under the theme, “Is Localization a Key for Sustainable Energy Strategies?”, we listed advantages and disadvantages of localization of energy generation and consumption. Advantages included “Suitable energy sources for each location/ purpose”, “No need for good investment – local ownership”, “Shorter distance of transportation”, “Income/employment for a local community”, “Higher awareness of people on own use of energy”, “Small environmental impact”, and “Flexible application and policy change”. Disadvantages, or challenges and limitations, included “Balance of supply and demand”, “Inefficiency due to a small scale”, “Government regulation and restriction”, “Awareness and understanding of local people”, and “Local environmental impact”.
A small group of students could come up with such a comprehensive list in a short discussion, this can probably be seen as a successful outcome of their learning thorough a series of seminars from November. Now we all need to show how each of us can think and act for sustainable energy strategies, with various view points and common interests. (SN)
| Time/Date | 16:00-18:30, Wednesday, 11 January, 2012 |
| Place: | Rm 21, Honkan (Main Building), Fuchu Campus |
| Participants: | 6 students & 3 faculty staff |
Program: |
1) Reflection on the field trip in Dec (slides) 2) Presentation by students whose research field is directly related to energy issues 3) Group discussion – Is Localization a Key to Sustainable Energy Strategies? 4) Mini New Year Party! |