Kyoto University Weeks 2015: Public events at 26 university facilities across Japan (10 October–7 November 2015)

Kyoto University Weeks 2015 Public Events

1. Hokkaido Forest Research Station: Mini public seminar "Nature Observation" (Saturday, 17 October)

Hokkaido Forest Research Station Shirakaba Branch of the Field Science Education and Research Center held a mini public seminar titled "Nature Observation".

There were 26 participants in this year's event. Following the opening ceremony and a briefing at the administrative office, participants were driven to a trail in the forest to observe nature. Participants walked slowly along the path in three groups and listened to explanations by the teaching staff and technical personnel. Participants were pleased with their experience, and gave comments such as 'I truly enjoyed the event' in the feedback questionnaire.

2. Hida Observatory: "Rediscovering Nature Tour for Adults" (Saturday 10–Monday and National Holiday 12 October)

Hida Observatory of the Graduate School of Science took participants on a "Rediscovering Nature Tour for Adults" over three days and two nights.

Participants spent the first two days in the observatory. The first day started with a talk about the observatory's research activities and concluded with an astronomical observation in the evening. With the weather to their favor, participants were able to see the Andromeda Nebula in detail using Asia's largest refractor telescope. The programs for the second day, including observing sunspots, prominences, and optical spectra using the Domeless Solar Telescope and the Solar Magnetic Activities Research Telescope, were changed due to the cloudy weather. In lieu of real-time observation of the sun, participants enjoyed looking at observation images collected over the years and watched videos capturing the sun's activity. They were also able to take time to examine the elaborate design of the large-scale observation instruments. Participants asked many questions to the staff and enjoyed being immersed in the great outdoors from a scientific perspective -- an opportunity they do not come across in their day-to-day lives.

3. Kamitakara Earthquake Observatory and Hodaka Sedimentation Observatory: Joint public event for Kyoto University Weeks 2015 (Saturday 17 October)

Kamitakara Earthquake Observatory and Hodaka Sedimentation Observatory of the Disaster Prevention Research Institute co-hosted a public event for Kyoto University Weeks 2015.

Three lectures titled "Earthquakes and Volcanoes in the Hida Mountains" (Associate Professor Shiro Ohmi, Kamitakara Earthquake Observatory), "Various Sediment Disasters in Mountainous Regions" (Associate Professor Daizo Tsutsumi, Hodaka Sedimentation Observatory) and "How Can We Measure Water and Soil in Mountain Rivers?" (Assistant Professor Shusuke Miyata, Hodaka Sedimentation Observatory) were delivered at Nakao Community Center in the Oku-Hida Spa Village. Participants included those from the Nakao neighborhood, the town of Kamitakara, and even staff from the Kamitakara branch of the city of Takayama. The participants left comments such as "We live on the bounty Mount Yake gives us, but it was good to be aware of the disasters that have previously hit the region and of disasters that could possibly happen in the future."

4. Primate Research Institute: 25th Public Program Day (Sunday 25 October)

The Primate Research Institute held its 25th Public Program Day.

77 people from various age ranges and from various parts of the country took part in the event, including teenagers, people in their 70s, and those from regions from as far as the Kanto and Kansai. Following a lecture revealing the latest achievement in research, titled "Peaceful Co-existence Mechanism Observed among Apes", participants visited a free-range farm for chimpanzees and Japanese monkeys, an archive exhibition room, and other facilities. Participants toured the facilities as they asked many questions to their guide. Participants expressed their enjoyment in comments such as "Every year I look forward to participating in this event as it gives me a valuable opportunity to visit facilities that are usually closed to the public", and "I feel more familiar after looking inside the facility, because we can usually only see it from the outside."

5. Shigaraki MU Observatory: Tour to study the Shigaraki MU radar 2015 (Saturday 10 October)

Shigaraki MU Observatory of the Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere held a tour to study the Shigaraki MU radar for KU Weeks 2015.

The observatory's MU (middle and upper atmosphere) radar is one of the most powerful atmospheric observation radars in the world, and has been used by researchers in Japan and around the world since its completion in 1984. For the 2015 tour, 74 participated in the morning session and 55 did so in the afternoon. Following a briefing by Professor Mamoru Yamamoto of the Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, participants split into two groups and toured the MU radar and relevant devices. The tour concluded with a live demonstration of releasing a research balloon. The fine weather contributed to the enjoyment of the participants throughout the day.

6. Research Center for Environmental Quality Management: Public program "Half-Day Research Experience at Lake Biwa" (Saturday 24 October)

On 24 October, the Graduate School of Engineering’s Research Center for Environmental Quality Management (RCEQM) hosted a public program called "Half-Day Research Experience at Lake Biwa".

This year, ten people -- six secondary school students and four adults – participated in the annual program, which introduces the general public to RCEQM's environmental research.

Following the opening address by the facility's director, participants listened to a briefing on RCEQM and a mini-lecture afterwards. Next, they visited an experimental water-treatment facility installed in an adjacent sewage plant, and toured RCEQM's experiment building, where they attended lectures on biological tests and hyper laboratory devices, and took part in water-quality analysis. Feedback comments included "The lectures were really thorough and easy to understand," and "Analyzing water quality was really fun."

7. Center for Ecological Research: Public program "Wonders of Life Forms You Would Never Learn about in School" (Saturday 7 November)

On 7 November, the Center for Ecological Research (CER) held a public program titled "Wonders of Life Forms You Would Never Learn about in School".

This public program is held annually to introduce the local community to CER's activities with the aim of stimulating interest in science and nurturing a passion for learning.

Applications outnumbered the available places for this year's event, with a total 80 people showing up on the day. As in the previous year, the participants ranged from children to retirees, and included out-of-town visitors.

The program began with the director's briefing on the types of research being conducted at CER, followed by two lectures: "Let's simulate changes in organism populations" by a faculty member and "How do flowers know when to bloom?" by a graduate student. Next, participants toured the forest managed by CER (“CER's Forest”) and observed nature. Many of them took the opportunity to talk to the researchers and ask questions about their work. Feedback comments from the participants included, "I appreciated the chance to learn about research, and was amazed by the insightful questions children asked," and "The lectures were very accessible and engaging."

8. Ashiu Forest Research Station public program (Saturday 17 October)

On 17 October, Ashiu Forest Research Station (AFRS) of the Field Science Education and Research Center (FSERC) opened its doors to the public, showcasing its latest research achievements and offering a chance to experience the forest's rich natural environment.

AFRS's previous public programs consisted of lectures and accepted just 20 attendees, but this year's event was open to all, resulting in a total 145 people participating, a number that exceeded the target by a wide margin.

The event comprised a lecture, hands-on activities -- painting, dyeing, and wood-chopping -- and a hike led by faculty members. Through the variety of activities offered in the program, the participants were able to experience the wonders of nature and mingle with the researchers who study it first-hand.

The event concluded successfully, with one remarking, "It was really fun. I definitely want to come back next year."

9. Kamigamo Experimental Station: Autumn nature observation (Saturday 7 November)

On 7 November, Kamigamo Experimental Station (KES) of the Field Science Education and Research Center (FSERC) held an autumnal nature-observation session for the KU Weeks program.

A hundred-and-twelve individuals (62 groups) had applied for participation against the capacity of 30, and 26 (12 groups) showed up on the day of the event.

The session commenced at 9:30, 30 minutes after the registration opened, with KES Director Naoko Tokuchi introducing the facility. Participants then walked in three groups along a 2-km observation trail for two and a half hours as the faculty and staff explained the local fauna and flora as well as the research and other activities taking place at KES. They also toured the station's greenhouse and specimen building.

10. Kwasan Observatory: "Galleryweek 2015" (Saturday 10-Monday 12 October), public programs (Saturday 17 October), and an outdoor concert (Saturday 24 October)

For this year's KU Weeks, Kwasan Observatory of the Graduate School of Science hosted three events during the month of October: "Galleryweek 2015" from the 10th through the 12th, public programs on the 17th, and an outdoor concert on the 24th.

Galleryweek 2015 consisted of an exhibition of space-inspired artworks.

Public programs included an exhibition of and lectures on telescopes and observation equipment, a screening of the "Four-Dimensional Digital Universe", a handiwork class, and moon observation.

The outdoor concert, titled "An Evening of Moon and Music", began with a screening of  "Kojiki and the Universe", which blends images of outer space with music by world-renowned new-age artist Kitaro, followed by a live concert starring Kitaro himself, Keiko Takahashi, Yukari Hagita, and Shinji Ebihara.

These varied programs all shared the "space" theme and were intended to highlight the breadth of activities taking place at Kwasan. The survey answers showed that many of the visitors, including those with no prior interest in astronomy, enjoyed the experiences and felt closer to both the universe and the host facility after attending these events.

11. Uji Open Campus 2015: "Opening Up the Door to Science from Uji" (Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October)

This year's Open Campus in Uji took place on 24 and 25 October under the theme of "Opening Up the Door to Science from Uji".

This open campus event is held annually with the purpose of introducing the general public to some of the research taking place in Uji. The number of participants has been increasing steadily, topping 3,400 this year.

On both dates, the program offered a wide variety of activities to cater to people of all ages, including lecture seminars, lab presentations, and tours of research facilities and laboratories which are usually closed to visitors. In some of the hands-on projects, visitors worked earnestly on experiments and were able to feel the breadth and depth of the world of science, which range from grand topics to familiar phenomena.

Held concurrently was a stamp rally, which an enormous crowd of people enjoyed under a clear autumn sky.

Feedback comments included "I definitely want to come back again," and "I sure hope to see this event returning year after year."

12. Ujigawa Open Laboratory: Open Laboratory "Let's Experience Disaster-Causing Natural Phenomena" (Sunday 26 October)

On 26 October, Ujigawa Open Laboratory of the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) hosted an open laboratory event titled "Let's Experience Disaster-Causing Natural Phenomena".

Blessed with good weather, the event drew three large groups and 440 visitors, a number close to the record level seen last year.

Participants observed and experienced the power of flowing water and the severity of flood damage through hands-on demonstrations. Their comments included: "I now appreciate the importance of preparing for disasters," and "It was great to be able to actually experience phenomena that I had only watched on TV."

13. Experimental Farm: Open farm 2015 (Tuesday 3 November)

On 3 November, the Graduate School of Agriculture held a public "Open Farm 2015" event at its experimental farm in Takatsuki City, Osaka.

Under the theme, "Kyoto University Takatsuki Experimental Farm: History and the New Beginning", the program comprised a wide variety of activities, including a lecture, a tour of rice and vegetable fields and fruit orchards, rice-harvesting and other agricultural work, experiments such as removing astringency from sour persimmons, sale of fresh farm products, and exhibitions. Through these experiences, participants learned of the breadth of activities taking place at the research farm, ranging from the latest research to agricultural education to production. The number of visitors far outnumbered expectations at 641, with the spot sale and the tours receiving the most visits. The open laboratory and agriculture demonstrations went into full swing as soon as they began. At the exhibition of experimental devices and the poster presentation, visitors were seen listening attentively to the staff's commentary. The lecture hall was filled to capacity, and the external viewing venue was popular with visitors who still wished to listen.

14. Abuyama Observatory: KU Weeks 2015 Special Program (Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 November)

On 2 and 3 November, Abuyama Observatory of the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) held a public program, "Experience and Discovery: The History and Cutting Edge of Earthquake Monitoring".

The program included the first public display of an Omori seismometer, as well as a lecture and guided exhibition tour focused on the history of earthquake monitoring and seismology. Also available were a range of activities designed to showcase the cutting edge of seismology, including demonstrations of the ultra-small "Manten" seismometer and the "Jishin Zabuton" ("Portable Earthquake Simulator"), the latter of which is capable of reproducing previously observed seismic waves.

15. Research Reactor Institute: "Atom Science Fair" lectures and experiments (Saturday 17 and Sunday 25 October)

For this year's "Atom Science Fair", the Research Reactor Institute (RRI) hosted a lecture event on 17 and experiment sessions on 25 October.

The Fair is held annually with the aim of encouraging people of all ages to take an interest in science.

With 41 people attending, the lecture event on the 17th presented two talks: "Neutron-based diagnosis of boron deficiency in plants: why it is important to measure the behavior of boron in plants" and "Radiation as a key to the secrets of life".

The experiment sessions on the 25th drew 51 elementary and junior high school students, who worked enthusiastically on projects involving trick art and a cloud chamber, discovering the joys of science in the process.

Both programs proved highly successful, with the participants leaving comments such as "The lectures were very easy to understand," "I want to learn more about the topics discussed today," and "I'd love to come back next year."

16. Wakayama Forest Research Station: public mini-lecture (Sunday 25 October)

On 25 October, Wakayama Forest Research Station (WFRS) of the Field Science Education and Research Center (FSERC) hosted a mini-lecture event for the general public, inviting local residents to learn about the facility, including its education and research activities as well as missions.

The program had been in the planning for some time, but was delayed until this year due to lasting damage from the 2011 flooding of the Kii Peninsula.

A total 22 people applied to participate, filling up the available places.

Participants met up at the parking lot of the Shimizu administration bureau of the Aridagawa Town Office, and traveled in two taxi vans to the forest, where they observed nature mostly around a high-altitude ridge under the guidance of WFRS's faculty and technical staff members. They learned about not just the species names but also various other aspects of local plants, including their varied shapes and habitats, which are part of their survival strategies, and their value as timber and the issues associated with their use.

The comments from the participants included, "I really love this event. I think more people in Wakayama Prefecture in general, and in Arita in particular, should know about it," and "I want to know more about the research going on at Kyoto University, and I'd love to take part in different programs."

17. Shirahama Oceanographic Observatory: Observation of marine phenomena from an ocean station vessel (Saturday 10 October)

On 10 October, three residents of Kyoto and Wakayama Prefectures took part in a marine phenomena observation event sponsored by the Shirahama Oceanographic Observatory (SOO) of the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI).

After being briefed on the kinds of observations taking place at Tanabe-Nakajima storm surge observation tower at the mouth of Tanabe Bay and the observation ship Kaisho , participants boarded the latter and sailed to the former. During the journey they took part in oceanic observations and measured water temperature and salt levels. Later, back at SOO, they learned about the measurement results, which were explained using graphs.

18. Seto Marine Biological Laboratory: Facility tour (Saturday 31 October)

On 31 October, Seto Marine Biological Laboratory (SMBL) of the Field Science Education and Research Center (FSERC) hosted a facility tour, an annual event inaugurated as part of the first KU Weeks in 2011 with the aim of sharing the facility's activities with the public.

This year's tour was held in collaboration with the Kinki Regional Environmental Office of the Ministry of the Environment to mark the designation of SMBL's surrounding waters as a "marine park" of the newly expanded Yoshino-Kumano National Park.

The opening address by SMBL's director was followed by two lectures: "History and significance of SMBL and Shirahama Aquarium" and "History of the Hatakejima experimental site and the significance of marine park designation". Participants then traveled by car and ferry to the research and training boat Yanthina to sail to the Hatakejima island, which serves as a field site for experiments. On the island, they listened to a lecture on the local environment and buildings. Afterwards, they returned to SMBL and individually toured the adjacent Shirahama Aquarium until the closing time. They all seemed to share enthusiasm in the topics covered, as seen from the variety of questions they asked after the lectures and from their responses to the survey.

19. Shionomisaki Wind Effect Laboratory: Experiencing meteorological observation (Saturday 7 November)

On 7 November, Shionomisaki Wind Effect Laboratory of the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) held a public event called "Experiencing Meteorological Observation". It consisted of morning and afternoon programs, the former of which was open to the general public and attracted 39 participants, while the latter was held for 15 local high school students.

In the morning program, which took place at an outdoor experimental site, participants learned about how a 3D ultrasonic anemometer and an infrared steam and carbon dioxide measuring device were used to track slight changes in wind and temperature, as well as steam and CO2 levels, near the ground. Afterwards, they observed a demonstration of GPS sonde (a device for measuring temperature and humidity) as it was lifted by helium balloon to an altitude of 16 km above sea level for atmospheric monitoring.

In the afternoon program, the participating high school students toured the experimental site and watched the GPS sonde demonstration, before moving to the prefectural Koza High School to attend a lecture and take part in an exchange with KU graduate students.

20. Tokuyama Experimental Station: Public program co-hosted with Shunan City (Saturday 31 October)

On 31 October, the Field Science Education and Research Center (FSERC) and the city of Shunan, Yamaguchi Prefecture co-hosted a public program at FSERC's Tokuyama Experimental Station and the western section of the municipal Shunan Ryokuchi Park (Shunan green park).

After touring Tokuyama Experimental Station under the guidance of two FSERC faculty members in the morning, participants traveled to the western part of Shunan Ryokuchi Park in the afternoon to learn about the area, which had served as a KU research station until 1966. They listened with rapt attention as two municipal guides explained how trees had been collected from across Japan and beyond to create a forest there.

A participating high school student said of the event: "It's been an inspiring day -- totally different from my classroom or everyday experiences, and full of discoveries."

21. Tokushima Landslide Observatory: Tour of the facility, a landslide site, and an active fault (Saturday 17 October)

On 17 October 2015, the Tokushima Landslide Observatory (TLO) of the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) hosted its first public program, which consisted of a tour of the facility, a landslide site, and an active fault.

Traveling in three buses, the 24 participants, ranging in age from six or seven to 80, first arrived at TLO to attend a presentation, in which core boring samples were used to illustrate the characteristics of schists and landslide surfaces.

Next, they visited the landslide site in the Nishi-ikawa district of Ikawa Town, Tokushima, which TLO has been closely monitoring over an extended period. The participants learned about the site's soil, landform, and movement characteristics, and about various instruments used to detect landslides. Each participant then jumped on the spot to generate a ground motion, which was measured and analyzed using those devices. The waveform characteristics were explained by the attending staff.

Finally, the group visited and observed an exposed active fault after listening to a detailed lecture on associated topographical changes, which had resulted from the Median Tectonic Line's seismic activity.

22. Beppu Geothermal Research Laboratory: Facility tour, public lectures, Jigoku (underworld) hiking, and building illumination (Friday 30 October-Sunday 1 November)

For KU Weeks 2015, the Beppu Geothermal Research Laboratory (BGRL) of the Graduate School of Science held a facility tour and lecture sessions on 31 October, as well as an "underworld" hot spring hike on 1 November and a light-up event of its main building (a registered cultural property) on 30 and 31 October.

With 151 people participating, the facility tour included exhibitions and presentations on water, hot springs, and local geology and disasters, as well as field observation and experiment sessions. Participants were seen studying the exhibits and following the commentary with keen interest. The lectures elicited many questions from the audience, while the "underworld hike" inspired comments such as, "It was a pleasant walk, and I learned a great deal about the geographical characteristics of hot springs."

23. Aso Volcanological Laboratory: Commemorative lectures and other public programs (Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November)

The Aso Volcanological Laboratory (AVL), Graduate School of Science, organized two KU Weeks events in collaboration with the local Minamiaso Village Board of Education: lectures on 6 November marking the registration of the AVL main building as a tangible cultural property, and public programs on 7 November.

These events, which were focused on sharing AVL's volcanic research and other activities with the local community, were part of Kyoto University's efforts to strengthen its partnership with Minamiaso. The occasion of the registration of AVL's main building as a national tangible cultural property provided context for them.

The lectures delivered on 6 November were about "Electromagnetic waves: how they shape the atmospheric environment and how they are used in the exploration of Earth's environment" and "Volcanic activities of Mount Aso". These were followed by a briefing on AVL's research activities using the posters on display at the venue. Participants totaled 300, 260 of whom were local junior-high school students.

Activities on 7 November included a presentation on AVL's history, an exhibition of posters illustrating cutting-edge volcanological research, and observation experiments. Around 100 people, including parents with children, were in attendance. One visitor remarked, "The presentation was thorough and easy to follow," while another said, "I found the experiments really intriguing. The view from the building's fifth floor was breathtaking."

24. Koshima Field Station: "One-day research experience: Let's observe the monkeys of Koshima" (Saturday 7 November)

On 7 November, the Koshima Field Station (KFS) of the Wildlife Research Center (WRC) hosted a public program, "One-day research experience: Let's observe the monkeys of Koshima", with the aim of raising public awareness of the island and its Japanese macaque population.

In the event, a first held by KFS, the 20 participants from Miyazaki Prefecture and elsewhere were ferried from KFS to the Koshima island to take part in a survey of local monkeys and tour the forest, where they were amazed at being able to observe the primates up close. Later, back at the station, they attended a lecture on the biology of monkeys and ongoing research. Their feedback comments included, "I want to come back next year," and "It was a fantastic event."

25. Sakurajima Volcano Research Center: exploration tours and public program (Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October)

During KU Weeks 2015, Sakurajima Volcano Research Center (SVRC) of the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) held exploration tours on 24 and 25 October, along with a public program on the 25th.

The tours were filled to capacity on both dates, with 89 people taking part over two days.

The first tour stop was the Harutayama observatory tunnel, which is ordinarily closed to the public. There, participants listened to a presentation on the roles of the tunnel and observation equipment, and asked many questions afterwards. They also enjoyed the rare chance to photograph the structure's insides.

Next, the group visited the Harutayama observatory (formerly Sakurajima Observatory), where participants climbed to the building's rooftop to view the looming volcanic island of Sakurajima. They listened to explanations about Kita-dake (northern peak), which is a steep mountain facing the observatory; Minami-dake (southern peak), which is still active; and Aira Caldera, which encompasses a part of Kinkou Bay. They then viewed a mechanical seismometer and a barometer that have been in use for more than half a century. Finally, they arrived at the Kurokami observatory, and viewed the lidar device newly installed for the measurement of volcanic ash levels, and the active Showa crater.

In the public program held on 25 October, popular activities included an exhibition of photographs and footage of Sakurajima eruptions since the Taisho era, and presentations on three items: a Wiechert seismograph consisting of smoked paper on rotating drums and used since the observatory opened, cutting-edge data-processing equipment being used to forecast eruptions, and the newly installed lidar volcanic ash-detection system.

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