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The event will facilitate the exchange of research experiences between Japanese and Italian scientists, focusing on five key environmental issues: biodiversity, the sea, the polar regions, climate change, and natural hazards. These themes reflect the core research domains of Italy’s CNR – Department of Earth System Sciences and Technologies for the Environment.

Each session reflects how knowledge, grounded in scientific observation and cultural memory, can be harnessed to better understand and respond to global environmental threats. The day begins with high-level greetings and the signing of bilateral memoranda, followed by thematic panels that highlight both nations’ complementary strengths and shared research efforts.

・Biodiversity is addressed from both European and Japanese cultural perspectives, and includes insights into biosynthesis and bioprospecting for future medicine.

・Seas and Oceans focuses on local ecological knowledge, particularly “fishers’ memories,” as a practical tool for marine ecosystem management.

・In Polar Regions, ice core data and remote observation offer a vivid record of past climates, while stressing the urgency of international cooperation in a rapidly warming Arctic.

・The Climate Change panel examines long-term observational networks such as SKYNET and GRUAN, emphasising collaborative monitoring of solar radiation and atmospheric conditions.

・The final panel on Natural Hazards and Deep Exploration delves into disaster memory, earth observation, and seafloor dynamics, highlighting efforts to understand and mitigate geophysical risks.

The programme concludes with a curated artistic video presentation, open to Expo visitors, designed to evoke public interest in the morning’s scientific topics and foster a broader understanding of environmental protection through knowledge.

【Reflection】
The event cantered on five key environmental themes that reflect the core research activities carried out by the Research Institutes within the Department of Earth System Sciences and Environmental Technologies of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR). The day was marked by the signing of two significant Memorandums of Cooperation: one between CNR and JAMSTEC, and another between CNR and the University of Tsukuba, reinforcing strategic scientific ties between Italy and Japan.

Scientific knowledge—anchored in memory and data—emerged as a vital tool for understanding environmental transformations and enhancing resilience to global challenges. Japanese researchers already involved in collaborative projects were invited to participate, fostering a bilateral dialogue through thematic panels that explored the intersection between research and protection of life.

Opening Panel: Marine Infrastructure and International Cooperation
The first panel, inspired by the newly signed agreement between CNR and JAMSTEC, focused on strategic marine infrastructure and international collaboration. It highlighted the joint use of advanced technologies for ocean observation and deep-sea exploration, showcasing expeditions from the International Ocean Discovery Program and its evolution into IODP3. The panel also introduced Japan’s upcoming Arctic research vessel Mirai II, designed for international scientific missions. CNR’s Mediterranean-based infrastructure was presented as a model for advancing ocean science, informing policy, and contributing to global initiatives such as the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

Panel 1: Biodiversity
This panel explored biodiversity through cross-cultural and scientific lenses. Diego Fontaneto (IRSA-CNR) and Jotaro Urabe (Tohoku University) examined cultural memories of biodiversity, from prehistoric cave art to manga and modern mascots. Angelo Fontana (ICB-CNR) and Toshiyuki Wakimoto (Hokkaido University) discussed the link between biodiversity and chemodiversity, emphasizing the role of natural compounds in drug discovery and the risks posed by biodiversity loss to ecosystems and human health.

Panel 2: Seas & Oceans
Focusing on memory as ecological knowledge, this panel highlighted the lived experience of fishers as a valuable resource for ecosystem management. Ernesto Azzurro (CNR IRBIM), Takehito Yoshida, and Mayumi Fukunaga (Tokyo University) shared insights on transforming traditional knowledge into scientific understanding. Fishers’ observations offer a broader viewpoint on ocean change and support collaborative, sustainable marine governance.


【Post EXPO Initiatives】
The discussions held during the program have continued to foster concrete collaboration between Italian and Japanese research institutions following the Expo. Scientists from both countries are advancing the sharing of long-term observational data and research outcomes across five key themes: biodiversity, marine environments, polar regions, climate change, and natural hazards.

In particular, the two agreements signed by CNR with JAMSTEC and the University of Tsukuba represent a strategic milestone in fostering long-term scientific collaboration between Italy and Japan.

The Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with JAMSTEC lays the groundwork for joint research in Marine Science and Biotechnology, Polar Science, and Scientific Infrastructure. These areas will be explored through interdisciplinary studies on ocean ecosystems, climate-related contaminant cycles, microbial diversity, and advanced simulation techniques for polar ice dynamics. The agreement also enables shared access to research platforms, including vessels within the IODP3 framework, and promotes the exchange of scientific personnel. Over the coming years, this cooperation is expected to evolve into joint research projects, co-authored publications, and coordinated field campaigns, contributing to global efforts in marine and polar science.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Tsukuba focuses on building a robust academic and research partnership. It includes the development of joint research programs, staff exchanges, and the creation of a permanent platform for strategic dialogue. This platform will serve as a hub for identifying and launching new initiatives in higher education and scientific research, with the aim of strengthening ties not only between the two institutions but also between Italy, Europe, and Japan. The agreement also supports student and researcher mobility, encouraging training, workshops, and collaborative learning experiences. In the coming years, this partnership is expected to lead to new collaborative projects, joint funding applications, and shared educational programs, fostering innovation and capacity building across borders.

Together, these agreements signal a shared commitment to advancing science through international cooperation, and they pave the way for a dynamic portfolio of joint activities that will grow and evolve in the years ahead.

National Research Council