PARE Summer School 2021

PARE Summer School 2021 is an eye-opening experience which dissect environmental problems through the lens of PARE framework. PARE stand for Populations-Activities-Resources-Environments, which gives us a holistic approach to environmental problems that connects ecosystem and socio-economic system. As countries the develop economically, environments such as forests, rivers and wetlands tend to be negatively affected. To be able to give effective solutions to these problems, PARE summer school provides students the training needed to face current and future challenges.    

PARE Summer School brings together students from a variety of nationalities, universities, and field of research to learn and discuss about PARE topics. As English is a secondary language for most of us, these has massively improved my English speaking and listening ability. From the tasks that were given, we were able to exchange ideas, share personal experiences and present our discussion results. Though it was less than 2 weeks, I feel that how I communicate my ideas and respond to questions have been refined.   

As the event was conducted during the pandemic, foreign participants cannot attend PARE Summer School in Hokkaido. There was also the problem where because of the increase BCP level in Hokkaido in late August 2021, The PARE fieldwork must be postponed to October 4^th _­2021, almost a month from what have been scheduled. Despite that, the PARE staff was very reassuring in rescheduling the event and making sure that most students can attend the event, while also aware of any possibility of conflicts in schedules. They even went above and beyond by providing a 360 degrees livestream of the sampling excursion, so that foreign students can attend virtually. My utmost gratitude to the lecturers and PARE staff for the excellent assistance even under these circumstances.  

The PARE Summer School also shows me the beauty of Japanese culture, history and environment, specifically around the Sapporo region. We learn about Ishikari River and its important role to in agriculture and flooding. The sampling excursion to Toyohira River where we get a glimpse of the Jozankei Onsen, Hoheikyo Dam and salmon migrating.  Through the efforts by the Professors and PARE team, I could appreciate and enjoy the experience though only though a screen. Hopefully one day I could visit when it’s safe to travel.    

Overall, it was a pleasant, engaging and fun experience for me. I could truly say that PARE summer school is one of my highlight moments of 2021. I highly recommend students who aspire to work in environmental and agricultural research. Joining PARE Summer School will equip your different perspectives in tackling environmental problems and provides you with the latest research methods, conservation management and environmental policies in different countries. It has inspired me to be open to collaboration and discussion with other disciplines which I hope can enrich my own future research.