DIPCON/ARC-2014 Conference concluded (3–4 September 2014)

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The first Diffuse Pollution Conference/Asian Regional Conference (DIPCON/ARC) (organized by the International Water Association (IWA) and the Japan Society of Water Environment (JSWE), and co-organized by the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, the Graduate School of Engineering, and the Educational Unit for Studies on Connectivity of Hills, Humans and Oceans (CoHHO)) was held at Kyoto University's Research Building No 3 on 3–4 September. DIPCON is the official international conference organized by the IWA Diffuse Pollution Specialist Group, and DIPCON/ARC is DIPCON's first regional-level meeting. The DIPCON/ARC–2014 attracted 78 participants from 11 countries, who gathered to share information on diffuse pollution and build networks with others based in the Asian region.

The event began with a welcome address by Professor Shigeo Fujii, Dean of the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, followed by an opening speech by Professor Sung-Ryong Ha, Chair of the Diffuse Pollution Specialist Group. Forty-one "hybrid" presentations — each consisting of a short oral presentation and a poster display — were given over four sessions, which aimed to enable participants to share their latest research on issues associated with agricultural and urban contaminations of water, air, and soil resources resulting from disseminated or non-point sources, stimulating lively discussions. In the Special Session, held after the four scientific sessions, five experts on non-point sources from Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Laos reported on the present conditions of diffuse pollution and associated control measures in their respective countries, and discussed solutions to diffuse pollution problems in general. On the second day, 4 September 2014, participants went on a study tour to the Amagase Dam, the Aqua Biwa museum, erosion control works (the "Holland Dam"), and Lake Biwa to experience the geographic and socio-economic characteristics of the Lake Biwa–Yodo River Basin, and to learn about the latest Best Management Practice (BMP) measures in place in Japan. At the end of the conference, participants agreed to reconvene at the second DIPCON/ARC, which is scheduled to take place in South Korea in 2016.

A presentation in the morning session

The poster displays evoked lively discussion

Study tour to the Amagase Dam, a multipurpose dam for flood control, water supply, and hydro power generation in the Yodo River Basin