Under SSP Japan- Asia Youth Exchange Program of Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), I participated in the Workshop on Joint Development of Arsenic Removal Technology with University of Miyazaki from August 19th to September 6th 2014. The Vietnam team consisted of eleven (11) participants: 9 from the Institute for Water and Environment (IWE) and 1 from the Institute for Water Development and Partnership (IWDP), and I took on the role as a team leader.

Besides participating in the workshop and working in the laboratory, we visited many places in Japan such as Fukuoka Science Museum, Kumamoto City Water Science Museum, Aso Volcano museum and mining sites, water treatment plant and sewerage treatment plant in Miyazaki, etc. We understood the relation between earthquakes and volcano, mineral and transport of arsenic to underground water. The museums gave its audience the chance to experience and understand science deeply.

This trip was really impressive to us and also a lot of fun. We learned a lot about arsenic management and arsenic treatment technology from Japan. Especially, the Institute for Water and Environment (IWE) established a long-term cooperation with the University of Miyazaki by signing an MOU.

As a result, follow-up cooperation activities have been conducted:
(i) One staff of IWE was sent to University of Miyazaki for professional training on arsenic removal technology; (ii) University of Miyazaki visited IWE to discuss and develop cooperation project;
(iii) Students of Omiya Miyazaki High school have visited IWE every year during 2016-2019. However, the cooperation has been interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We still keep contact and expect the exchange to re-start again in near future. We do hope SSP will continue to support our cooperation activities.

FY2014 Activity Report (Open Application Program) No.81 (in Japanese)
https://ssp.jst.go.jp/report/2014/k_vol81.html
FY2014 Activity Report (Open Application Program) No.82 (in Japanese)
https://ssp.jst.go.jp/report/2014/k_vol82.html