Earth and Energy Sciences PhD Students Visit Japan

In March 2023, two of our Earth and Energy Science PhD students, Gracie Babineaux and Naomi Mathew, traveled to Kanazawa University, Japan, as student-ambassadors to help build the foundation for collaborative research and education between UL Lafayette and Kanazawa University. This unique professional journey was made possible through the support of Kanazawa University and The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, equivalent to the US National Science Foundation. On their trip the students were warmly welcomed and escorted by Dr. Takashi Hasegawa. Dr. Hasegawa facilitated meetings with the Vice President of the Kanazawa University, the head of Administration, and a myriad of faculty who are interested in developing collaborative research projects with the UL Lafayette College of Sciences. Gracie and Naomi gave presentations about their dissertation research projects and toured many research laboratories. When the students were not on campus, Dr. Hasegawa and his graduate students, put on their tour guide hats and introduced Gracie and Naomi to the deep cultural heritage and natural beauty of not only Kanazawa, but also the Ishikawa Prefecture. Though short, the trip was productive and transformative.

Later in March Dr. Hasegawa and Dr. Kamiya visited UL Lafayette, met with the Earth and Energy Science program faculty, the Dean of the College of Sciences, the Dean of the Graduate School, the Assistant VP for Research, and exchanged the letters of collaboration signed by the Presidents of both universities. In April President Takashi Wada appointed Dr. Carl Richter (School of Geosciences) as Collaborative Professor at Kanazawa University.