This is a program promoted and funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) to enhance exchanges between Asia and Japan among young people who will play a crucial role in the field of science and technology in the future.
RESTEC arranged a course program consisting of lectures and practical sessions regarding remote sensing, in particular agricultural application, in collaboration with Tokyo Denki University and Rissho University. The course includes facility tours to the Earth Observation Center (EOC) / JAXA, an irrigation facility, Saitama Agriculture Management Junior College and the Center for Exploratory Research of Hitachi, Ltd. which are located in and near Hatoyama Town, Saitama Prefecture. Mr. Komine, the Mayor of Hatoyama Town, kindly visited the trainees while they were staying in the town. They also visited Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) / JAXA and the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan).
In addition, all participants experienced Japanese traditional culture and the Japanese tea ceremony (Sa-Do), and tried to make traditional Japanese hand-crafted paper (Wa-Shi) by themselves.
13 participants from 8 different countries including Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand joined the program. Most of them are officers concerned with agriculture.
This is the fourth time for RESTEC to arrange the course, with financial support provided through the SAKURA Exchange Program in Science.