Kyoto University -Tsinghua University Symposium 2020 on Research and Education of Environmental Engineering was successfully held. (2020.12.5)

On December 5, 2020, Kyoto University - Tsinghua University Symposium 2020 on Research and Education of Environmental Engineering (herein after the symposium) was successfully held by Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University and Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (TSIGS), with the support of Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES), Kyoto University, and Kyoto University-Tsinghua University Cooperative Research and Education Center for Environmental Technology (CRECET).

Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic situation, the symposium was held online for the first time. More than 100 participants, including faculty, staff and students of both the universities and staff from Chinese and Japanese environmental-related enterprises supporting CRECET, joined in this symposium and actively discussed. As the 15th symposium, the development of the onsite laboratory initiative of Kyoto University and the progress of Double-Degree program between Kyoto University and Tsinghua University were introduced. Also, researchers from both the universities presented their latest academic achievements, and the technical staff from Chinese and Japanese environmental companies also reported their latest technologies. In addition the students of Kyoto University and Tsinghua University joining international internship program (Wild & Wise Program) organized by Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University shared their experience in this year.

For the Opening Session, Professor Jian'e Zuo, vice dean of Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Professor Masahiro Ohshima, Dean of Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, and Mr. Sadao Mino, President of Council of CRECET and Hitachi Zohsen Corporation, provided their greeting speeches and extended thanks to everyone supporting the development of CRECET. The cooperation between Kyoto University and Tsinghua University with/after the COVID-19 pandemic will also be highly expected, considering the experience of this difficulty.

Next, professors of both the universities introduced countermeasures on the research and education activities at both the universities under the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, Professor Shigeo Fujii of Kyoto University introduced the Double-Degree program between GSGES and TSIGS, followed by the current situation of online international exchange activities at Kyoto University under the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Yuntao Guan of Tsinghua University introduced the countermeasures of TSIGS for the COVID-19 pandemic and the newly established Institute of Environment and Ecology of TSIGS. Professor Guan also expressed his expectation of promoting international cooperation with universities and institutions in various countries, including Japan. Professor Hiroaki Tanaka of Kyoto University expressed his gratitude to everyone contributing to the development of CRECET and introduced the development of the Onsite Laboratory Initiative of Kyoto University, while sharing the current progress in Japanese wastewater-based epidemiology of COVID-19. Then, Professor Masaki Takaoka of Kyoto University and Associate Professor Huan Li of Tsinghua University proposed the preparation of Double-Degree program between Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, and TSIGS.

During the Academic and Research Exchange Session, Professor Sadahiko Itoh, Associate Professor Fumitake Nishimura, and Assistant Professor Haruka Takeuchi of Kyoto University, Professor Xiaoyan Li, Associate Professor Yi Tao, and Assistant Professor Yuxiong Huang of Tsinghua University introduced their latest research achievements and shared their ideas on the development of their research fields. 

For the Business and Student Exchange Session, Dr. Liang Zhang from Maezawa Industries Incorporation, Dr. Liang Liu from THUNIP, Dr. Pengzhe Sui from Swing Corporation, and Dr. Yanyun Zhai from Shenzhen Ecovista Tech reported the technologies or projects in their companies, respectively. Further, Mr. Junyeong Yoo from Kyoto University and Ms. Xin Du from Tsinghua University jointly shared their experiences and feelings through attending the first online internship hosted by Kyoto University in November 2020, and they expressed their expectation of continuation on this international internship programs.

Finally, Professor Takeshi Katsumi, Dean of GSGES, Kyoto University, delivered the closing speech, and this symposium was successfully concluded.