Page 40 - ASEP_EBOOK_V10
P. 40
innovative solutions and actionable aspect of the program, from site visits to
strategies aimed at addressing pressing academic lectures, cultural activities, and
environmental challenges within the collaborative initiatives. By focusing on
overarching framework of Biodiversity and biodiversity conservation and ecological
Renovation. Following the intellectually renovation, ASEP 2017 aimed to address
stimulating presentations, the day the profound environmental challenges
transitioned to the closing ceremony, facing communities in Japan and beyond,
graced by esteemed keynote attendees particularly in the wake of the devastating
including Shuji Hashimoto, Vice President 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
of Waseda University, Naoki Hayashi, Throughout the program, participants were
Executive Director of AEON Environmental exposed to innovative approaches and
Foundation, and Hiroshi Yokoo, Chairman of best practices aimed at restoring
the Board of AEON Co., Ltd. Against this ecosystems, revitalizing communities, and
backdrop of institutional leadership, the promoting sustainable development. Site
participants were afforded a platform to visits to locations such as the resilient
showcase the cultural richness of their oyster farms of Minamisanriku-cho and the
respective homelands through captivating innovative educational initiatives of
traditional dances of their home countries. Higashimatsuyama-shi provided first-hand
The formalities of the closing ceremony insights into the transformative power of
seamlessly transitioned into a lunch environmental stewardship and community
reception, providing a final opportunity for engagement. By witnessing the resilience
the participants to forge lasting and ingenuity of local communities in the
connections, and bid farewell to newfound face of adversity, participants gained a
friends and colleagues. With hearts full of deeper appreciation for the
cherished memories and minds enriched interconnectedness of human well-being
with newfound knowledge, the participants and ecological health. Moreover,
concluded their transformative journey engagements with esteemed partners such
through ASEP 2017 with a spirited goodbye as the International Research Institute of
party. Amidst laughter and heartfelt Disaster Science at Tohoku University and
farewells, the participants embraced the the AEON Tower showcased the critical
spirit of global solidarity and cooperation role of research innovation and corporate
that defined their collective experience, sustainability in driving positive change. By
carrying with them the indelible lessons fostering collaborations between
and experiences garnered from ASEP 2017. academia, industry, and civil society, ASEP
Though the physical journey may have 2017 facilitated the exchange of knowledge,
reached its conclusion, the enduring bonds expertise, and resources necessary to
forged, and the invaluable insights gained address complex environmental
will continue to serve as catalysts for challenges.
positive change in the ongoing pursuit of a
more sustainable and resilient world.
All in all, ASEP 2017 had perfectly
embodied the theme of "Biodiversity and
Renovation", which encapsulated the
overarching goal of fostering environmental
sustainability and community resilience in
the aftermath of natural disasters. This
theme was meticulously woven into every
39
