Last month we joined the annual International Short Trip Course to Tohoku with students from The Australian National University. On the first day, after the Welcome and Greetings from professors and the directors, we immersed ourselves in lectures across a spectrum of disciplines, from geohazards to philosophy, as well as lab tours at AORI. It was exciting to meet new people and make friends with each other.
On the second day, we departed from AORI to Tohoku, heading north along Japan's East Coast, starting our trip with the first visit to the TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Center. We were able to closely learn about the Fukushima nuclear accident. Following the visit, we went to explore the traces and deposits of tsunamis in a soil setting, great thanks to the professors from Tohoku University for their help.
On the third day, we visited the town of Otsuchi, which was devastated by the 2011 big earthquake and tsunami. We had a walking tour and a workshop on tsunami events, response, decision making and recovery. It became particularly important for science communication when we shared different ideas and understood different perspectives from each other at the workshop. We also went to the AORI aquarium exhibit and saw the interesting marine animals in the sea around Otsuchi.
Day 4 started with a hike along the coast at Karakuwa to see some boulders that were shifted by the 2011 tsunami. We took the best group photo at the boulder site with the great view. Following the walk, lunch was an unexpected highlight of the day in a beautiful traditional Japanese house with a garden. We went to the Okawa elementary school after lunch, where they had preserved the destroyed school after the 2011 tsunami for exhibition.
On day 5, we visited the Nakahama elementary school, where 90 lives were saved from the 2011 tsunami and marked as a great success in surviving the catastrophic tsunami event. This visit provided a poignant example of how effective preparation and leadership are essential to survival. We returned back to AORI in the afternoon and enjoyed the delicious BBQ dinner hosted by the whole department.
On the final day, to conclude this international short course, we prepared slides and made group presentations based on what we have learnt from the trip. It was such a pleasure to meet each other from different countries and work as partners. This course ended perfectly with a farewell party at the Fish Club Hama restaurant on the ground floor at AORI. We really enjoyed the fresh fish, sushi and nice dishes prepared by the hospitable chef and staff. Many thanks to all the professors, staffs and teaching assistants that organize the course and help us all the way through the trip, making it a lifetime memorable experience for us all.
