Sustainability Weeks 2017

Sustainability Weeks (SW) is an annual campaign hosted by Hokkaido University since 2007. During the event, several thousands of researchers, educators, students, and citizens from Japan and beyond gather at the university to share and discuss the latest knowledge concerning sustainability and to identify the next actions to take towards a better future.

The year 2017 is the 11^th year for Hokkaido University to hold SW. The event period of SW has been changed from autumn to summer to enhance global collaboration. A variety of events are held between July and August in 2017, corresponding with the Hokkaido Summer Institute (HSI), a program bringing together more than 130 world leading researchers from over 110 universities/institutes from all over the world to provide courses in collaboration with HU faculty members.

This Year’s Theme

“Contributing Towards the Resolution of Global Issues”

As we approach an important milestone, the 150th anniversary of Hokkaido University in 2026, the university reaffirms its significant role in society to sustain future generations. Toward “a Hokkaido University that contributes to the resolution of global issues,” SW2017 will be held concurrently with the Hokkaido Summer Institute (HSI) to enhance global collaboration.

(click to get PDF)

“Future Strategy for the 150th Anniversary of Hokkaido University 150 – Contributing Towards the Resolution of the Global Issues-“

Event Period

15th July (Mon) – 25^th August (Fri), 2017

List of the Event

A variety of events to discuss how to make a sustainable society will be held.

Date	July 15(Sat)―16(Sun) August 5(Sat)―6(Sun)	Time	9:30-17:30
Event Title	Lectures and Practices: Risk Communication on Food and Agriculture
Outline	Do you know what “risk communication” is? Risk communication is a process to exchange information and opinions about a risk interactively among specialists, the government, and any other people who are interested. It is getting more and more important to make use of specialist knowledge in society. This event is a series of lectures for beginners in “risk communication on food and agriculture.” Participants will learn using their head and whole body based on the three keywords, “make,” “tell,” and “connect” through several lectures and practice sessions.
Venue	S8, 2F, S bldg., Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education, Hokkaido University
Organizer	Vocational Education and Training Project on Food Risk Communication, Hokkaido University
Main Target	Citizen, College/Graduate students	Language	Japanese
Entry Fee	Free
Registration	Required. Please send an e-mail to risk-com[at]cen.agr.hokudai.ac.jp (contact person: Hori) with your name and affiliation by 16:00, June 30 (Fri).
Contact	Hiroko Hori Vocational Education and Training Project on Food Risk Communication, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University TEL: +81-11-706-3868 E-mail: risk-com[at]cen.agr.hokudai.ac.jp
Website
Poster
Report

Date	August 8 (Wed)	Time	13:30-16:30 (Reception 13:00)
Event Title	Lecture: How Can Ancient Agricultural Practices in Japan and the USA Inform Modern Agriculture Sustainability?
Outline	The expansive Miscanthus grasslands in Aso, Kyushu, Japan, have been maintained by farmers for more than thousand years for grazing, building materials, manure for rice field and tourism. In the semi-arid southwestern United States, Native American tribes cultivated succulent Agave plants for several hundred years as crops for food, fiber, beverages, and medicine. In recent years, interest has grown to produce both Miscanthus and Agave for bioenergy. In this lecture, participants will learn what is being done to learn how traditional agricultural practices can inform sustainable, modern-day cultivation of these crops, particularly in the context of global climate change.
Venue	Conference Hall, Hokkaido University
Organizer	Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere
Co-organizer	Graduate School of Global Food Resources
Main Target	Citizen, College/Graduate students, High school students	Language	English & Japanese (consecutive interpretation)
Entry Fee	Free
Registration	Not required
Contact	Toshihiko Yamada Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University TEL: +81-11-706-3644 E-mail: Yamada[at]fsc.hokudai.ac.jp
Poster
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Date	August 14 (Mon)―25 (Fri)	Time	Library open hours –Central Library: –North Library:
Event Title	Used Book Donation Promotional Weeks
Outline	One of the projects of the Hokkaido University Library is to recycle used books received by various people and use the donations to support educational and research activities, such as purchasing books for students and library furniture. By reducing the number of disposed books, Hokkaido University reduces its environmental impact and provides educational support for students at the same time. Please check here for the details. https://www.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/en/about/huruhon-bokin/ During Sustainability Weeks 2017, the purchase price is increased by 50% so that the effect of your cooperation is more helpful. “Donation stations,” which are the drop-off bins for the used books, are in the Central Library and the North Library. They are sponsored by the “Creating a Sustainable Campus” project conducted by the Office for a Sustainable Campus, Hokkaido University
Venue	Hokkaido University Library (Central Library & North Library)
Organizer	Hokkaido University Library
Entry Fee	Free
Registration	Not required
Contact	Yukino Aihara Hokkaido University Library TEL: +81-11-706-2365 E-mail: huruhon-bokin[at]lib.hokudai.ac.jp
Website	https://www.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/en/about/huruhon-bokin/
Poster
Report

＊＊SW Sponsorship Events＊＊

Hokkaido University holds events outside of SW2017 (July 15th– August 25th) as “SW sponsorship events.”

Date	November 20 (Mon)	Time	13:30-16:00
Event Title	International Symposium on Environmental Health: Achievements and Future Prospects – The role of WHO Collaborating Centre
Outline	The Hokkaido University (HU) Center for Environmental and Health Sciences (CEHS) has been designated as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre (WCC) for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards. In this symposium, the researchers of CEHS and other related organizations introduce HU’s activities in collaboration with WHO under the theme of SW2017, “Contributing Towards the Resolution of Global Issues.” An environmental specialist from WHO Western Pacific Region (WPRO) will lecture on the different activities of WHO, regional issues, and demands and expectations for WCCs. Afterwards, research findings and future prospects from two WCCs of Hokkaido University are introduced: CEHS and Research Center for Zoonosis Control. Also, as HU has promoted collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a long time, there will be a presentation on past and planned activities of HU and JICA. After all lectures, participants and lecturers can freely exchange their opinions to consider the ways and activities which can help solve global issues in cooperation with WHO, WCCs, and JICA.
Lecture	1) Rok Ho Kim (WHO WPRO) ※video recorded presentation in English “WHO in Western Pacific Region and future partnership with WHO collaborating centres in achieving SDGs” 2) Atsuko Araki (CEHS, WCC) “Environmental chemicals and their health effects: from research to WHOCC Activities” 3) Hiroshi Kida (Research Center for Zoonosis Control, WCC) “Activities of WHO Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses Control, Hokkaido University” 4) Takeshi Takano (Hokkaido University International Affairs Department) “Collaborative activities of Hokkaido University and JICA: Past examples and the future”
Venue	Enyuu Gakusha
Organizer	Center for Environmental and Health Sciences (CEHS)
Support	Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Main Target	Specialists, Citizens, College/Graduate students	Language	English & Japanese (simultaneous interpretation from English to Japanese)
Entry Fee	Free
Registration	Required to apply online
Contact	Atsuko Araki Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University TEL: +81-11-706-4748 E-mail: AAraki[at]cehs.hokudai.ac.jp
Poster
Report

Date	December 9 (Sat)	Time	TBA
Event Title	HULT PRIZE@Hokkaido University – A Social Business Competition Organized by Students –
Outline	The Hult Prize is an international start-up accelerator driven by students and run by the Hult Prize Foundation in Collaboration with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). Every year, students around the world compete at their schools and advance to the Finals in New York where the winners are awarded 1 Million USD and mentored by international business leaders. Thousands of students from more than 150 countries make their own teams to join the competition and bring ideas to solve the world’s most imminent problems. This event is the preliminary competition held at Hokkaido University. HU students give presentations about social entrepreneurship to challenge global social problems.
Venue	Conference Hall, Hokkaido University
Organizer	HULT PRIZE Executive Committee
Main Target	Undergraduate/Graduate students, Alumni (PhD available, except for　teachers)	Language	English (No interpretation)
Entry Fee	Free
Registration	Required. If you are interested in participating as contestants, please apply online on the website which will be open in October, 2017. If you would like to participate as audience, please send an e-mail to hultprizehokkaido[at]gmail.com.
Contact	Esma Esra Onay HULT PRIZE Executive Committee E-mail: hultprizehokkaido[at]gmail.com
Website	Facebook: @hultprizeHU
Poster

Flyer

Please click the picture below for details.

Contact Information

Division of International Planning

International Affairs Department, Hokkaido University

Address: Kita 8, Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0808

Hokkaido, JAPAN

Tel: +81-11-706-2184

E-mail: contact[at]oia.hokudai.ac.jp