2013-10-1

Commemorative Lectures by Winners of the Blue Planet Prize 2013 at the National Institute for Environmental Studies

October 1 (Tuesday), 2013
Shogo MURAKAMI, Manager,
International Coordination Office, Planning Department
National Institute for Environmental Studies

　The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) is pleased to announce that it will host commemorative lectures by the winners of the 2013 Blue Planet Prize on November 1 (Friday), 2013. The recipients of this year’s prize are Dr. Taro MATSUNO (Japan) and Dr. Daniel SPERLING (USA).

Dr. MATSUNO has demonstrated outstanding leadership in research, projections and clarifications in the field of meteorological science, thereby contributing to a deepened international awareness of global warming and climate change.

Dr. SPERLING’s significant contributions are focused on the environmental impacts of transportation systems - by means of comprehensive practical research encompassing science, technology and policy-making. He has been awarded the prize for his considerable contributions to progress in the environmental policies of cities and the formulation of associated indicators.

　Attendance at the commemorative lectures is free. Please complete the online application form if you wish to attend. The lecture by Dr. MATSUNO will be in Japanese, while Dr. SPERLING’s lecture will be in English. No simultaneous interpretation will be provided.

※ Blue Planet Prize
Each year the Blue Planet Prize is awarded to individuals or organizations responsible for outstanding achievements in scientific research and its application – by means of which they have contributed to the solving of global environmental problems (sponsored by the Asahi Glass Foundation)

1．Overview of the Commemorative Lectures by the Winners of the Blue Planet Prize 2013

Date: November 1 (Friday), 2013
Time: 13:10-15:00 (Reception from 12:30)　　Finished.
Venue: OHYAMA Memorial Hall (Main Research Building II, 2F) at the National Institute for Environmental
Studies (16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba)

2. Registration

Please complete the registration process from the following page:　Finished.
Deadline: October 24 (Thursday), 2013　Finished.
Attendance Fee: Free (on completion of registration)

3. Language

Dr. Taro MATSUNO – Japanese
Dr. Daniel SPERLING – English (no simultaneous interpretation will be provided)

4. Access

http://www.nies.go.jp/gaiyo/kotu/index-e.html
There is limited parking and there is a significant chance that parking will be unavailable at NIES. Visitors are strongly encouraged to come to the event by bus, bicycle or on foot, rather than using their own cars.
* From Tsukuba Express (TX) Tsukuba Station [left]: Exit A3, Bus stop 4 “Towards Hitachino-Ushiku”, get off at the “Kankyo-Kenkyujo” (National Institute for Environmental Studies) stop.
* From JR Joban Line, Hitachino-Ushiku Station: East exit of Hitachino-Ushiku station. Bus stop 1 “Towards Tsukuba Center” or “Towards Tsukuba-Daigaku Chuo”, and get off at the “Kankyo-Kenkyujo” (National Institute for Environmental Studies) stop

5. Contact

International Coordination Office, Planning Department, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Yukari EBATA, 029-850-2827　FAX：029-851-2854　E-mail：bp2013@nies.go.jp

6．Recipients of the Blue Planet Prize 2013

Dr. Taro MATSUNO (Japan)
Principal Scientist, Research Institute for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Dr. MATSUNO’s research outcomes in the field of meteorological science - in particular his outstanding leadership in climate change projections using global simulators - have contributed to the clarification of global warming and climate change.
Furthermore, through his participation in international activities such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) he has contributed to deepening the governmental and social awareness of the serious impacts of climate change in respective countries throughout the globe.

Dr. Daniel Sperling ( USA )
Professor, University of California, Davis
Dr. SPERLING’s major achievements have focused on the impacts of transportation on the environment. In addition to his progress of research from the perspectives of vehicle technologies, fuel use and human behavioral patterns; he has pioneered developments in the creation of highly-efficient, low-carbon, eco-friendly transport systems.
These outcomes have influenced automobile makers in both Japan and throughout the globe. He has made pivotal contributions as a policy-making leader including his role in policy formation for climate change and atmospheric pollution in the state of California, a model for sustainable eco-city transport and land use.

7．Additional Information

Additional information on the Blue Planet Prize 2013 recipients and a detailed overview of the prize are available from the Asahi Glass Foundation Homepage: http://www.af-info.or.jp/en/index.html