After a very successful programs in 2006 and 2007 in cooperation with Tokyo University of Agriculture, the Asian Studies Center of Michigan State University will offer a two-way summer exchange program for high school students and teachers in cooperation with Japan's Shiga Women's College and Shiga University and high schools in Shiga Prefecture. Two teachers and eight students from Japan will travel to Michigan, where they will join two Michigan teachers and eight Michigan high school students for a ten day joint environmental exploration focusing on Great Lakes and other water quality issues in Michigan [July 19-30]. On July 31, the group will travel to Japan together, where they will conduct a ten day joint exploration of the water quality and other environmental issues of Lake Biwa and the Yodo River basin [August 2-13].This program wil be made possible again this year thanks to the generous support of the U.S.-Japan Foundation. Each participant will need to contribute $500 to the cost of the program and will be responsible for the cost of some meals (typically one per day) during the program.
The program will consist of four parts:
- A one-day Pre-Program Orientation for students and their families on a Saturday prior to the start of the program (date to be announced.)
- A ten day study tour in Michigan [July 19-30, dates tentative]
- A ten day study tour of the Kansai region of Japan, including sightseeing in the cities of Kyoto and Osaka [August 1-13, dates tentative].
- A possible panel presentation at the Michigan Science Teachers Annual Conference in 2008 (voluntary)
In Michigan, participants will be housed in an MSU residence hall and will host a Japanese student for a weekend homestay. In Japan, the students will be hosted in home-stays by Japanese families. Participants will do water quality testing both in in the US and Japan and will write up their results for presentation. (This will be done jointly on the last day in Japan.)
- have a valid U.S. passport
Note: Passport processing can require as much as twelve (12) weeks. Prospective participants not holding passports should begin the application process immediately. - ensure that they have medical insurance that will cover them while in Japan
- transport themselves to and from the airport where the flight to Japan will originate (airport to be determined)
- provide gifts for their host families
- pay a program fee of $500, and
- provide their own funds for costs they incur that are not covered by the program, including some meals.
The students will be accompanied, both in Japan and the U.S., by the MSU Program coordinator, William Londo. Sites to be visited in Michigan include the Kellogg Biological Station, The Great Lakes Science Museum, Mackinac Island, and the Soo locks. In Japan, the group will visit Lake Biwa, several sites along the Yodo river, and tour the cities of Kyoto and Osaka.
Click here for a program pamphlet — please circulate widely.
Application Deadline: 6 June 2008
Note: the selection of student participants is complete, but applications for student alternates are still welcome.
Applications from teachers are still being sought!
To insure full consideration of your application, follow all instructions below.
Links to the student and teacher applications appear below. Complete an application by typing into it using your web browser or Adobe Reader. Please do not submit a handwritten application. Note that applications also require a typed essay and a letter or letters of support.
Student Application Teacher Application
For more information, contact:
William Londo
MSU-Shiga Summer Environmental Studies Program Coordinator
e-mail: londo@msu.edu
or at the address and phone shown below.
