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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.

Panel 3: Polar Regions
The third panel addressed the Polar Regions as environmental archives. Time series data from instruments and ice cores—collected through global collaborations like EPICA and IPICS—provide evidence of climate evolution. Speakers included Tommaso Tesi and Chiara Venier (ISP-CNR), Takashi Kikuchi (JAMSTEC), Ayako Abe-Ouchi (Tokyo University), and Kenji Kawamura (National Institute of Polar Research). Research platforms such as RV Mirai II and Antarctic drilling projects aim to uncover ancient ice records dating back 1.2 million years.

Panel 4: Climate Change
This panel focused on observational networks and infrastructure essential for monitoring climate change. Systems like the GRUAN Reference Network and the International Skynet Network track atmospheric composition, pollution, and solar radiation. Key contributors included Francesco Cairo (ISAC-CNR), Kazumi Aoki (Skynet), Domenico Cimini (IMAA-CNR), and Masatomo Fujiwara (Hokkaido University).

Panel 5: Natural Hazards and Deep Observations
The final panel explored memory as a tool for risk mitigation. By preserving knowledge of past disasters through historical records and illustrations, researchers can better anticipate future risks. Speakers included Alessandro Pasuto and Paola Salvati (IRPI-CNR), Hiroyuki Ohno (Sabo), Taro Uchida (Tsukuba University), Shinichi Kusano, and Masaru Kunitomo (Sabo, MLITT). The session concluded with “Deep Observations,” featuring Marco Cuffaro (CNR-IGAG) and Yasuhiko Ohara (Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department of Japan), who shared deep-sea exploration experiences focused on tectonic dynamics and seafloor composition. These records serve as a memory of Earth’s evolution and help assess natural hazards and geosphere–hydrosphere interactions.

Art Segment: Liquid Cartographies
The day was enriched by an artistic segment titled Liquid Cartographies, featuring a collective video installation by Elena Bellantoni, Elena Mazzi, Pamela Pintus, and Mariagrazia Pontorno. The six videos, projected together as a large-scale mosaic, offered fluid and poetic reinterpretations of natural, marine, and urban landscapes through the artists’ gaze.


【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