2012-6-14

National Institute for Environmental Studies Summer Open House July 21 (Saturday), 2012 “Have Fun, Learn, and Boost your Eco-Power!”

NIES Summer Open House

The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), is pleased to announce its annual Summer Open House, to be held on July 21 (Saturday), 2012. The theme of this year’s event is “Have Fun, Learn, and Boost your Eco-Power!”
On the day there will be many enjoyable events which will allow visitors to enjoyably learn about all the hot environmental issues and current research at NIES. These events will include talks, such as those on energy and climate change issues (“Climate Change: That’s what I wanted to know!”); activities, which will allow you to touch and observe up-close some “familiar creatures”; guided tours of the attractions in English; and access to many facilities and laboratories which are not normally open to the public. This year, the NIES Summer Open House will also host the exhibition and prize-giving ceremony for the “1st NIES Picture Competition”

  • 1st NIES Picture Competition

1. Overview of the NIES Summer Open House 2012

Date : July 21 (Saturday), 2012
Time : 09:30-16:00 (Reception closes 15:00)
Venue : National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, JAPAN
Reception : Participation is free. Just turn up on the day(Groups of more than 15 persons should contact in advance)

map

Access :
● From Tsukuba Center, take Nishi Odori south. Pass Minami Odori, Ninomiya House, and Doho Park. You will see a Coco's Restaurant on your left. Turn right at that intersection. (If you reach Route 354, you have gone one intersection too far.)
● There is limited parking and visitors are strongly encouraged to come to the event by means of eco-friendly transport such as the Free Shuttle Bus, bicycle, etc., rather than using their own cars.
● Free Shuttle Bus
◇ From Tsukuba Express (TX) Tsukuba Station (see map). Buses depart every 5-10 minutes
◇ From Hitachinoushiku: Take the east exit of JR Hitachinoushiku station. Buses every 20 minutes

● Bus
◇ From Tsukuba Station
 Take the bus for Hitachino-ushiku departing from Bus Stop 4, and get off at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (around 10 minutes)
◇ From JR Hitachino-ushiku Station
 East exit, Bus Stop 1, take either the bus departing for “Tsukuba Center” or “Tsukuba University Central” and get off at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (around 13 minutes)

(1) What is going on during the NIES Summer Open House?

● Events for everyone: with over 60 exhibitions, talks and activities on offer, there will be something for everyone, from young children to adults
● Exhibition of the finalists, and prize-giving ceremony for the “1st NIES Picture Contest”
● Initiatives to promote the use of eco-friendly commutation to the NIES Summer Open House

keychain

△ Free shuttle bus between TX Tsukuba Station / JR Hitachinoushiku Station and NIES △ Free LED keychain to all visitors who use eco-friendly means (Bicycle, walking, free shuttle bus) to come to NIES

(2) Main Program (abridged)

using balloons

Activities and Interactive Events
● Shark and octopus touch pool
● Bio-gel beads which purify the environment
● Look! Touch! Smell!: Interact with algae corner
● Listen to the world underwater: This is what it sounds like when fish cry?
● Look at your own DNA!....and bring home a picture
● Make a DNA and dioxin model using balloons
● Electric vehicles and eco-driving: what does the future have in store?
English Guided Tours

guide

△ This year there will be three tours: Tour A (10:30-11:30), Tour B (12:30-13:30), and Tour C (14:00-15:00)
△ All three tours will have different and exciting content (explanations of research, facilities, and environmental issues in English; interactive activities, etc.)
△ Please come to the main reception if you would like to take part in the English guided tours
△ Each tour will be limited to 20 participants per tour; first-come, first-served

Facilities
● What exactly is a Time Capsule?
● Introduction to the Thermal Treatment Plant experimental facilities

Exhibitions/Introduction of Research
● Facing up to disaster and radioactive waste: Towards recovery of the disaster zone and appropriate disposal
● Think!: Energy and energy conservation

NIES Eco-bag

Other
● “1st NIES Picture contest”, exhibition and prize-giving ceremony
● Stamp rally: collect them all and get special flower seeds
● All visitors to the Open House will receive special NIES mementos, including an original NIES Eco-bag
● Much, much more

We look forward to welcoming you to the NIES Summer Open House 2012!

International Coordination Office,
NIES Planning Department,
National Institute for Environmental Studies
international@nies.go.jp