AGS Newsletter 2010 is available. Click here for download: AGS Newsletter 2010:3

International workshop, 24-25 February 2010, Tainan, Taiwan

This international workshop brought together researchers and students from Asian countries and focused on three themes: 1) urban metabolism (food, water, energy, waste); 2) designing rural-urban systems in Asia (food production, landscape, rural and urban planning); and 3) culture, economy and governance. (more…)

24 February 2010

“Opening remarks”, by Akimasa Sumi, TIGS, The University of Tokyo

Keynote speech:

“Disaster information management system in Taiwan”, Fengtian LIN, National Cheng Kung University

Session: Urban Metabolism – Energy and Resources

• “Towards a transparent land-use design tool for sustainable urban metabolisms focusing on energy, food and water”, Yasuhiro Fukushima, National Cheng Kung University
• “Empirical analysis of price transmission in palm oil crushing industry – the case of the province of North Sumatra, Indonesia”, Hirotaka Matsuda, IR3S, The University of Tokyo

Session: Food and Agriculture

• “Conflict of agriculture and development in peri-urban region”, Hirokazu Ozaki, IR3S, The University of Tokyo

Session: Water

• “Urban water metabolism”, Toshiya Aramaki, Faculty of Regional Development Studies, Toyo University
• “Water health issue in urban area”, Hiroyuki Katayama, Dept of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo
• “Urban traces in the environment”, Sebastien Rauch, Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology
• “Can participation mitigate water conflict?”, Mihoko Matsuyuki, Dept of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo

25 February 2010

Keynote speech:

“Topics in sustainability science and co-living philosophy, and conditions for the realisation of a sustainable society”, Tomonori Matsuo, Toyo University

Session: Designing Rural System in Asia

• “Sustainable urban structure and transport policy in metropolitan region”, Noboru Harata, Dept of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo
• “Impact of road network upon flood inundation”, Guangwei HUANG, Graduate School of Frontier Science, The University of Tokyo
• “Special feature of urbanisation and changes in thermal environment in Jakarta, Indonesia”, Akinobu Murakami, Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba
• “Housing supply, affordability and land use in the Mumbai Metropolitant region”, Rajiv R. Mishra, Principal Sir JJ College of Architecture, University of Mumbai
• “Regional planning and projects in the Ruhr region, Germany”, Dietwald Gruehn, School of Spatial Planning, Dortmund Technical University

Session: Designing Rural System in Asia

• “Scaling-up: an overview of urban agriculture in North America”, Matthew Potteiger, Dept of Landscape Architecture, State University of New York
• “Restoring agricultural landscapes in shrinking cities: Reinventing traditional concepts in Japanese planning”, Makoto Yokohari, Graduate School of Frontier Science, The University of Tokyo

Session: City, Region and Governance

• “Sustainable city-regions and the formation of regional governance”, Tetsuo Kidokoro, Dept of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo
• “Regulatory and governance issues in controlling urban development in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region”, Apiwat Ratanawaraha, Dept of Urban and Regional Planning, Chulalongkorn University
• “Lusaka, from Garden City to Metropolitan: toward sustainable African City Region”, Norihisa Shima, Dept of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
• “Informal collaborative network: Meinung Cultural Mobilisation in Soutern city region, Taiwan”, Peipeng LI, Dept of Bio-industry Communication and Development, National Taiwan University
• “Urban sustainability and vulnerability indicators: how do we evaluate our sustainability and vulnerability?”, Naesun Park, cSUR-GCOE, The University of Tokyo
• Presentation to second session by Hideki Koizumi, Dept of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo
• “The circulative dwelling in a town escaping from the legend of one family in one house on one site”, Otsuki Toshio, Dept of Architecture, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
• Presentation by Daisuke Abe, cSUR-GCOE, The University of Tokyo
• “The village inside: from Mumbai to Tokyo and back”, Matias Sendoa Echanove, URBZ
• “To build city-regions anew: space for citizens’ participation and initiatives”, Marco Kusumawijaya, Jakarta Arts Council, Taman Ismail Marzuki

Closing

“The management of urbanisation, development and environmental change in the 21st century”, Terry McGee, University of British Columbia

Student Session:

• “A re-evaluation of green space planning in peri-urban Tokyo transformation processes of land use in the Shimousa Plateau”, Mariko Miyamoto, Graduate School of Frontier Science, The University of Tokyo
• “Tragedy of the commons or tragedy of privatism? a triangulation of peri-urban community forestry in England, the United States and Japan”, Gerald Bolthouse, Graduate School of Frontier Science, The University of Tokyo
• “Wood energy and sustainable satoyama management: using urban waste wood to enhance economic viability”, Terada Toru, Graduate School of Frontier Science, The University of Tokyo
• “Transformation of peri-urban agricultural lands in Bangkok Metropolitan region: case studies of Nonthaburi and Rangsit”, Davivong Vudipong, Graduate of Frontier Science, The University of Tokyo
• “Conservation strategies of different municipalities for satoyama woodland in the urban fringe of the Tokyo metropolitan area”, Kazuaki Tsuchiya, Graduate School of Agricultural Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
• “Agricultural process and agricultural land use change in Tianjin”, Dingyang ZHOU, Dept of Ecosystem Studies, The University of Tokyo
• “”The tree protection ordinance on private lot and the implementation in Seattle city, Washington, USA”, Hirofumi Hori, Dept of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo
• “The transition of common spaces in high density housings and of facilities for children”, Saori Imoto, Dept of Architecture, The University of Tokyo
• “The living environment in a depopulating mountanous village: a case of Niyodogawa-cho Kochi, Japan”, Haruka Tsukuda, Dept of Architecture, The University of Tokyo
• “Toxicity characterization of urban river sediments using two benthic crustaceans”, Haruna Watanabe, Dept of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo
• “Evaluation by environmental burden and value of products for plastic cascade recycling”, Asako Okuno, Dept of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo
• “Virtual water flows and national water footprint of Taiwan”, Yenchi CHEN, Dept of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University
• “Biomass utilisation towards sustainability: a case study – GHG emissions from cassava derived starch and ethanol”, Tingting KUO, Dept of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University
• “Metabolism of energy self sufficient village in Indonesia,  a case study: Desa Haurngombong West Java”, Badariah Yosiyana, Dept of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University

Urban areas around the world are vital centers of culture, leadership, and opportunity. Although rapid urban development often leads to severe environmental and social problems, it could prove to be an outstanding opportunity to achieve greater sustainability. (more…)

Springer has set up ClimateSciNet, a professional scientific network devoted to those working or interested in climate science around the world. The network aims to bring students, researchers and industry professionals together, enhance contact and communication and stimulate the dissemination of climate related information.

Link to ClimateSciNet: www.climatescinet.com

New books in the series: (more…)

Sarah Slaughter, Senior Lecturer, Sloan School of Management at MIT

The Sloan School of Management at MIT offers a course that specifically addresses how organizations of all kinds – including traditional manufacturing firms, those that extract resources, a huge variety of new start-ups, non-profits, and governmental organizations of all types – are tackling the massive challenges of sustainability. (more…)

Global sustainability challenges need partnerships between academia and industry. AGS Todai has been doing this in its monthly Strategic Sustainability Seminars since 2007. Over twenty Japanese companies active in diverse business fields, including construction, food, chemical, cement, and real estate, have joined. They come to get comprehensive knowledge about sustainability for the future. (more…)

Management of Health Risks from Environment and Food (2010) Proceedings of the 9th Highway and Urban Environment Symposium Sebastien Rauch, Greg Morrison and Andrés Monzón (editors) ISBN: 978-90-481-3042-9 (hardcover)

(more…)

Management of Health Risks from Environment and Food (2010) Policy and Politics of Health Risk Management in Five Countries – Asbestos and BGE Hajime Sato (editor) ISBN: 978-90-481-3027-6 (hardcover)

(more…)