2024.01.26

Office for SDGs Promotion of Nagaoka University of Technology and others participated in the “SDGs Seminar for 2023 Winter” hosted by the School of Engineering, Okayama University, giving lectures and conducting demonstrative experiments

On December 22nd (Fri) and 25th (Mon), the School of Engineering, Okayama University hosted the “SDGs Seminar for 2023 Winter.” Professor Makoto NANKO (Director of Office for SDGs Promotion), along with other members of our Office for SDGs Promotion and Lecturer Yuki YAMAGUCHI from Department of General Education, participated in either on-site or online lectures and demonstrative experiments. The seminar was held as a unique international high school-university collaboration project, with participants including Malaysian junior and senior high school and university students, Chinese university students, and Japanese junior and senior high school and university students.

On the theme of “Characteristics and Simple Identification Methods of the Invasive Alien Species, Red Imported Fire Ants,” Lecturer Yamaguchi spoke on the impact of fire ants on ecosystems and the actual status of sightings in Japan, from the perspective of SDGs Goal 15 to “Life on Land.”

In Professor Nanko’s lecture and demonstrative experiment, TExDI (our engineering awareness project) conducted accessory-making using UV resin and microplastics (plastics that have deteriorated under the influence of ultraviolet light and waves and are smaller than 5 mm in size) which is popular in their workshop. Participants eagerly listened to the explanation of the environmental impact of microplastics and enjoyed making accessories while deepening their understanding of the SDGs.

On December 21st (Thu), the day before the seminar, a courtesy visit was paid to President Nasu of Okayama University , whereupon a discussion forum took place among administrative staff regarding the promotion of the SDGs. Since FY2021, the Nagaoka University of Technology and Okayama University have strengthened our relationship by sharing each other’s activities related to the promotion of the SDGs and collaboration between higher education institutions. At this discussion forum, staff members from both universities shared their SDG-related initiatives and challenges, and the exchange of opinions proved to be meaningful for future activities and collaboration between the two institutions.

We will continue to serve as a UNAI (United Nations Academic Impact) SDG 9 Global Hub University based on a framework of industry-academia-government collaboration, we aim to widely promote the SDGs to many others, starting with citizens. It will also conduct activities that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs, and conduct research, technology development, and education that generate innovations that can contribute to society.