Letters from HUAP: Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath-Kimura

This article was published in the Autumn 2023 issue of Litterae Populi. The full issue can be found here.

Dr. Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath-Kimura

Professor, Humboldt University of Berlin/Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)

When Hokkaido University offered me a partner position, I was very happy to be connected to my alma mater and my desire to go to Sapporo again grew stronger. I have Hokkaido University pamphlets in my office to present the appeal of the University to visitors. Many people in Germany have heard of “Hokkaido” and “Sapporo”, which are associated with good impressions, such as Snow or delicious pumpkin named “Hokkaido”. Many members of the association of alumni of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) in the German-speaking area have been to or have acquaintances in Hokkaido. When I see graduates of Hokkaido University or participants of the summer programs, I feel like I’ve known them for many years.

At a field of the Humboldt University of Berlin.

I’m happy that the Graduate School of Global Food Resources and other organizations of Hokkaido University are currently active in fostering international human resources and research activities. I am also conducting a joint research project with the Laboratory of Soil Science for which I am receiving Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research. I’m planning to visit places where I studied when I was in the doctoral course, and I’m looking forward to it. I’d like to interact with current students of Hokkaido University and to receive them as exchange students in the future. When some people from the German agricultural machinery industry sought my advice because they wanted to observe Japan’s smart agriculture, I recommended Hokkaido and a visit by their delegation to Hokkaido University was realized. 

Receiving the JSPS Alumni Award 2023.

Since the pandemic started, online meetings and communications through instant messengers have become common, and it has become possible to work efficiently and flexibly from home or other places. Even so, I feel it is important to meet people in person, because small talk you have with someone you run into may sometimes develop into discussions about research activities. I think online and in-person communications should be combined effectively in the future.

A “right crop for right site” model field to maximize ecosystem services.

I currently live in the State of Brandenburg, about 30 minutes by train from the east of the center of Berlin. It is a northern region, but it does not have as much snow as Sapporo. The nearby city of Fürstenwalde has a plant of the Beer Brewery, which advertises to be the roots of Sapporo Beer. I was very surprised to find a slide show of the streets of Sapporo, the Clock Tower, and Odori Park at the plant. In Germany, many people enjoy hiking and walking on holidays, and the entrances to forest roads are lined with cars in the mushroom-picking season. (Locals know the secret places, and so do I!)

Mushroom-picking harvest.

Cycling tourism is also popular, and projects to link bioeconomy and cycling tourism are conducted mainly in the Lausitz region with its old brown coal mine sites. Co-development-type research involving the stakeholders is recommended, and the research style is changing in the direction of conducting research, development, and innovation simultaneously under the name of Living-Lab. This is necessary to provide research results promptly to meet the on-site needs and address climate change “now”. Research on “right crop for right site” intended to identify optimal ways of utilizing agricultural land is currently conducted with the aim of improving ecosystem functions of soil besides food production, including carbon accumulation and groundwater preservation through smart agriculture.

I was able to spend nine wonderful years at Hokkaido University. I want to tell everyone at Hokkaido University that you can be proud of your university in the world. Please value your ties expressed in the Miyako zo Yayoi dormitory song.

This article was published in the Autumn 2023 issue of Litterae Populi. The full issue can be found here.