A kick-off workshop for the “Trilateral Coastal & Ocean Conservation Initiative – involving the US, ROK, and Japan” took place at the Fukuoka American Center in Fukuoka City. This initiative was first proposed during the Japan-U.S.-ROK summit at Camp David in the US in 2023. The workshop was organized by Kyushu University in collaboration with the U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka, the Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea in Fukuoka, and Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture, which experiences the highest amount of marine debris along Japan’s coastlines. The event marked the start of student-led activities for this initiative in Fukuoka.
The primary objective of this initiative is to cultivate next-generation leaders with expertise in marine environments and to propose solutions to global marine issues through student collaboration, using Tsushima City as a model. A comprehensive partnership agreement was concluded between Kyushu University and Tsushima City in May 2024, and various collaborations are expected in the future. Around 40 students, including about 20 from Kyushu University, participated in the workshop. Observers included Chuka Asike, Principal Officer to the U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka, and Naoki Hitakatsu, Mayor of Tsushima City.
The workshop at Kyushu University was led by Johan Lauwereyns, Senior Vice President for International Affairs, and Natalie Konomi, Vice President for International Affairs. It began with an opening address by Strader Payton, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka, which set the tone for a series of flash talks from prominent speakers. These included Adam Ross, Director of the Regional Environment Office at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand; Marty Pomphrey, General Manager of Patagonia International Inc.'s Japan Branch; Sean Kim, Team Head at Patagonia Korea; and Yoshiki Ueno, Representative of Tsushima CAPPA.
During the flash talks, discussions focused on tackling marine litter and microplastics, with students listening attentively. Following the talks, the students were split into five groups for a workshop aimed at exploring and proposing solutions to marine environmental challenges. Each team then delivered a 3-minute pitch presenting their creative and innovative ideas for addressing these issues. The speakers from the flash talks, who acted as judges, praised all the presentations and offered feedback. The team with the best pitch was awarded Patagonia bags as a prize.
The day following the workshop, the “U.S.-Japan-ROK Marine Environment Symposium 2024” took place at ACROS Fukuoka in Fukuoka City. The symposium brought together experts and stakeholders from the three countries to discuss and release a joint message focused on marine environment protection and the advancement of sustainable initiatives. At the event, Associate Professor Satoko Seino from the Faculty of Engineering at our university presented on the current status and responses to marine drift material in Tsushima, drawing on findings from previous field surveys.
Our university has committed itself to becoming a university driving social change with comprehensive knowledge in our long-term vision “VISION 2030”. To implement this vision, we will work towards solving global marine environmental issues through the Trilateral Coastal & Ocean Conservation Initiative. This initiative involves various stakeholders including students and researchers from Kyushu University, and leverages our unique positioning in Fukuoka, Kyushu.
