Activity Report of Open Application Program 2022 vol.16 (Course A)
Creating joint research opportunities between Japan and the Philippines in the field of marine and earth sciences
Report from the Japan Agency for Marine−Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
The Sakura Science Program was designed to enhance the interest of the participants in the potential use of sediment cores for investigating hazards caused by volcanic eruptions and big earthquakes, as well as the technologies and equipment for submarine resource exploration and multidisciplinary marine geological and geophysical surveys at JAMSTEC. They were also introduced to the International Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) and the new discoveries that were obtained from exploring the deep sea, especially extending the limits of life. These were all highlighted in both the lectures and laboratory tours.
At Yokosuka, the participants learned about the different geophysical and geochemical methods employed by JAMSTEC researchers in studying submarine volcanoes, tsunami records, and earthquake monitoring in Japan. Through the speakers' presentations, they also experienced virtual multidisciplinary marine geological surveys and saw the many technological advancement in JAMSTEC through the last 50 years and the future challenges that it wants to tackle. They were able to see the actual instruments, which they only knew in photos and videos. The participants also had a chance to see one of JAMSTEC's ships, R/V Kaimei, up close, including the instruments used for drilling and for submarine core and rock sampling and observations. JAMSTEC scientists showed their laboratory equipment and shared their research results and expertise to the students. Lectures were followed by short discussions and laboratory tours, which gave them plenty of opportunities to talk with and ask questions to the scientists.
At Yokohama, the participants were able to visit the "Earth Simulator", which is used for modeling and forecasting the Earth's responses to climate change, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. The participants had a chance to talk with both engineers in charge of the "Earth Simulator" and the scientists who are using drones for geophysical surveys of an active volcano, Nishinoshima. They also interviewed a former Sakura Science Program participant, who is taking his Ph.D. in Yokohama University and working with JAMSTEC scientists for his research at the same time. After the lectures, they also had informal interactions.
At Miraikan, we saw a lot of children in the museum. The participants were amazed at how children in Japan are exposed to science and technology and the scientific results and advances made by Japanese scientists at an early age. They observed that this could be the reason for Japan's technological advancement and wish that we can follow this example in the Philippines to encourage children to pursue science and technology education.
At Kochi, the participants had firsthand experience about observing the cores recovered during International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), as well as during JAMSTEC's D/V Chikyu's ocean drilling explorations for earthquakes, volcanic, and tsunami records in the Nankai Trough. They were also shown how to measure paleomagnetic signals from the sediments. The field trip reinforced their laboratory observations of the cores to help them recognize earthquake and tsunami signals in the sedimentary record.
Overall, besides learning from the research results and experiences of JAMSTEC scientists, the participants really enjoyed their visits to the laboratories and their hands−on experience in core description at the Kochi Core Center. All of them indicated their desire to come back to Japan either as students or researchers in the future. Some of them expressed their desire to engage further with JAMSTEC scientists through email correspondence in the near future.
