Activity Report of Open Application Course vol.49
Filipino researchers learn cutting-edge technologies
Report from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
At the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (hereinafter referred to as JAMSTEC), two Filipino researchers were invited to participate in a joint research activity program carried out from the 2nd (Sat.) to the 22nd (Fri.) of December 2017.
While interest in marine resources is growing globally, the need for human resource development, such as dispatching excellent young researchers and engineers overseas to learn cutting-edge technologies, etc., is becoming necessary in the Philippines. In addition, the Philippine government, through the Department of Science and Technology, recognizes the importance of international cooperation in the field of marine research and is preparing to promote international research cooperation through the newly certified joint marine exploration in the Benham Rise waters. In this context, future geological explorations in this area are being proposed.
With this background, in this program, University of the Philippines Graduate School students and researchers of the National Mapping & Resource Information Authority were invited to have an interaction with staff involved in research in marine geology and topography, etc. at JAMSTEC while analyzing available data and having discussions.
Through the entire program, opportunities to interact with researchers of, not only JAMSTEC, but also other institutions were provided in particular to learn marine topography and geophysical data processing technologies and to have active discussions based on that data. During this program, they visited facilities/equipment to see cutting-edge technologies, including “Shinkai 6500”, etc., and a state-of-the-art wide-area marine research vessel “Kaimei” at JAMSTEC. They also visited the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) and the Museum of Natural History to have opportunities to experience exhibitions of Japanese science technologies.
“Kaimei”
Invited researchers analyzed actual sea area data using technologies learned during their participation in the program. On the last day of the program, a seminar was held within JAMSTEC and discussions on exploration plans, etc. were made based on the analyzed data. The results of the discussions will be reflected in future plans, and the researchers are expected to create new analysis results using technologies learned here after their return to their home country.
The researchers were quite satisfied throughout the whole program and noted that they were really impressed with the ingenuity used in the exhibitions of Japanese science technologies. We would like to expect the results of this program to contribute to science technology exchanges between Japan and the Philippines in the future.