Kyoto University－Tsinghua University Symposium 2022 on Research and Education of Environmental Engineering

On December 17, 2022, the Kyoto University－Tsinghua University Symposium 2022 on Research and Education of Environmental Engineering was held online. The symposium was organized by the cooperative research and Education Center for Environmental Technology (CRECET), Kyoto University-Tsinghua University and co-organized by the Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Tsinghua University Shenzhen International Graduate School, and Kyoto University Earth Environment School.

Since 2008, the Kyoto University－Tsinghua University Symposium on Research and Education of Environmental Engineering has been held every December with hundreds of representatives from Kyoto University, Tsinghua University, and companies from both countries to actively discuss and exchange ideas on the field of environmental engineering research and education in a global perspective. This year's symposium continued to focus on the cooperation between the two universities in international education, advanced environmental technology, and student internship programs, as well as the exchange of environmental technology between the business communities in China and Japan. The symposium aims to deepen the joint graduate education between the two sides, discuss the development direction of advanced environmental technology, environmental science, environmental policy management, and industry-academia-research cooperation, and build an important platform for long-term cooperation between scholars from both countries to jointly solve global environmental issues.
Jian’e Zuo, the Vice President of Tsinghua University Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tetsuo Sawaragi, the Dean of Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Takeshi Katsumi, Dean of Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yuntao Guan, the Vice President of Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua University Shenzhen International Graduate School, Sadao Mino, the President of Council of Cooperative Research and Education Center for Environmental Technology (CRECET), Kyoto University-Tsinghua University, Prof. Masaki Takaoka, Prof. Taku Fujiwara of Kyoto University, and about 120 researchers, industry representatives and students from both China and Japan attended the conference.

The opening session was hosted by Prof. Yuntao Guan. Prof. Jian’e Zuo, Prof. Tetsuo Sawaragi, and Mr. Sadao Mino delivered their opening speeches respectively, in which they expressed their warm welcome to the participating experts and scholars, fully affirmed the important role played by CRECET for environmental technology exchange, talent training, and Master's Double Degree Program.They also expressed the long-term vision of cooperation between scholars from both sides in the global environmental advanced technology and joint education, and the common goal of actively promoting the sustainable development of the environmental field, and wished the symposium a successful outcome.

The international education session was hosted by Prof. Masaki Takaoka. Prof. Masaki Takaoka firstly introduced the cooperative research and Education Center for Environmental Technology (CRECET) Kyoto University-Tsinghua University, while Prof. Yuntao Guan, Prof. Motofumi Suzuki, and Prof. Shinya Echigo introduced the current situation of international exchange or education of the institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, the GSE, Kyoto University, and the GSGES, Kyoto University, respectively.

Research Session

Professor Taku Fujiwara moderated the research presentation session. Dr. Yohei Nomura from Kyoto University presented the removal mechanism of a veterinary sulfonamide antibiotic and its transformation byproducts from aquaculture wastewater. Dr. Si Chen from Tsinghua University's Shenzhen International Graduate School presented the value-added chemicals and fuel production from bio-based substrates. Dr. Taketoshi Kusakabe from Kyoto University presented the long-term stability assessment of sulfide and solidified waste mercury. Dr. Mui-Choo Jong from Tsinghua University's Shenzhen International Graduate School presented the impact of inconsistent wastewater management on waterborne antimicrobial resistance spread. Dr. Ying Zhang from CRECET Kyoto University-Tsinghua University presented the pollution trajectory and source apportionment of typical contaminants in river sediment under rapid urbanization. After that, Dr. Siqi Wang from Tsingyan Environment Co., Ltd, Dr. Pengzhe Sui from Swing Japan, Mr. Shintaro Nakahara from Kobelco Eco-Solution co ltd., Japan and Dr. Jian Wang, Vice President of Shenzhen Water Planning and Design Institute presented the current development of new technologies for wastewater treatment plants and resource thermal power plants in China and Japan, as well as strategies for water control systems based on eco-environmental development, respectively.

Dr. Zhang Ying moderated the special education session. Minxian Shen (Tsinghua University), NGUYEN Anh Vu (Kyoto University) and Wanni Zhang (Kyoto University) who participated in the "2022 Global Environmental Human Resources Development Program" online internship program introduced the internship program, presented the research on decarbonization in the water and wastewater field in Japan, China and Malaysia, and decarbonization in the waste field in Japan, China and Malaysia, respectively. Prof. Taku Fujiwara then awarded the completion certificates to all the students who completed the online internship program.

Professor Takeshi Katsumi delivered the closing speech, in which he said that the successful conclusion of the symposium reflected the good wishes of both China and Japan to create a better academic exchange environment, and looked forward to more in-depth exchanges and cooperation between Kyoto University and Tsinghua University in the future.

Group photos of the symposium participants