By Sumana Shrestha and Office of Public Affairs
The third batch of MPA students visited Japan during 17-21 July 2022 as a field trip. This field trip was one of the activities of the MPA project entitled “Empowering New Generation Leaders in Marine Plastic Abatement,” which started in August 2020 and was funded by the Government of Japan. The trip’s main objective was to allow the students to gain hands-on experience and learn about Japan’s best practices on marine plastic abatement.
During the trip, the students visited Hama Wing in Yokohama, Recycle Plaza in Fujisawa, JEPLAN Kanagawa and JFE Plant, and Iriezaki Sludge Center in Kawasaki. They got an opportunity to relate classroom learning to a real-world situation and environmental-related good practices.
The students also got an opportunity to learn about Japanese culture by visiting the places like Sensoji temple, Meiji Shrine, and Odaiba city in Tokyo.
“We were fortunate to have this field trip to Japan and would like to thank the MPA program of AIT and the Government of Japan for this wonderful and lifetime experience,” commented the MPA students.
“I am pleased that the third batch of students could make a visit to Japan and learn one of the best practices in plastic waste management”, said the MPA Program Coordinator and PI of the Project, Prof. Thammarat Koottatep.
Having spent most of her student life in Japan, Dr. Sumana Shrestha, Coordinator of Japan-related activities at AIT in the Office of International Affairs, commented, “It was one of my dreams come true moment to be able to provide this opportunity to students from developing countries to see and learn from Japan, and I felt so happy to see those happy faces of the students.”
During the trip, the MPA students were also accompanied by MPA project team members comprising faculty and staff members. The trip was led by Prof. Thammarat Koottatep, Professor of Marine Plastics Abatement Program and Environmental Engineering and Management Program of the School of Environment, Resources and Development.
