UNI Environmental Science students attend water quality research program in Japan

Water quality is arguably one of the most important issues facing our world, and one that leadership around the globe has been battling for decades. But as two UNI Environmental Science majors learned on a recent trip to Japan – the key to addressing these issues starts with collaboration.

Over the summer, Starr Claussen and Ramsey McGrew, two senior Environmental Science majors at UNI, attended the International Water Research Exchange Program at the University of Yamanashi, Japan. 

As part of the trip, Claussen and McGrew spent a week in Kofu, in the Yamanashi prefecture of Japan. There, they met with representatives from Yamanashi University, along with other student attendees from partnering universities in Cambodia and Ghana. Throughout the week, the group toured the University of Yamanashi labs and facilities, took part in classes and workshops, and gave presentations on water quality issues.

Fostering collaboration

For Claussen and McGrew, it was the experience of a lifetime – one that left them inspired by the collaboration and connections between environmental science students and professionals from around the globe.

“One of the best parts for me was learning with, and from, the students from the other universities,” Claussen said. 

During one of the exercises, the group learned about some real-world case studies, and were challenged to come up with our own solutions to the issues at hand.

“It was interesting to learn about some of these different issues, and how different people’s solutions could be applied to other countries’ water quality problems,” Claussen said. “It shows how important collaboration is between different universities and different nations. The more we collaborate, the faster we can solve some of these issues.”

Making new connections

Another byproduct of the collaboration was discovering unexpected connections.

“It was interesting to me that some of the stuff we were talking about during the classes and discussions at Yamanashi were things that my Hydrology class at UNI had just covered,” McGrew said. “It was neat to already have that background info and experience from my time at UNI.”

And while you might expect water quality issues in Japan to be very different from water quality issues in America, and in Iowa, that’s not exactly the case, says Claussen.

“In Iowa, one of our main water quality issues is pollution from agricultural run-off, and Japan actually has similar issues with their own farm run-off,” Claussen said. “You wouldn’t think there would be a ton of similarities, but their country is dealing with a lot of the same water quality issues that we are, which I didn’t really expect coming into this.”

McGrew and Claussen said the trip challenged them to think about the issue of water quality differently – not just on a global scale, not just on a hyper-local scale, but across a variety of different scenarios and contexts. 

Experiencing new cultures

“Sometimes I joke, ‘this is college, it’s not supposed to feel so fun!’ But it is,” Claussen added. “We get there in the morning, and we stay here all day – working on projects, going to class, or hanging out with classmates in the lounge area. It’s just such a good environment for learning and having fun – it’s a really special community that you’d never find in a bigger department or a bigger university, and I’m really grateful for it.”

Aside from learning more about water quality and environmental science, the trip was also a great cultural experience for both McGrew and Claussen – who appreciated learning about different cultures during the trip.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Japan, and this was the perfect opportunity because I’m really into water quality, and I have a minor in hydrology, so it made a lot of sense for me,” McGrew said. “One of the highlights was getting to know the culture in Japan, as well as getting to meet people from different countries, and learning about their cultures.” 

Claussen, who had recently returned from a study abroad trip in Italy, embraced the opportunity to immerse herself in a new and different culture.

“We got to explore some of the city in the evenings, and even stayed at a Buddhist hotel for a couple nights which was such a unique experience,” Claussen said. “We got to see this morning ceremony the Buddhist monks do each morning at 5:15 a.m., where they perform chants and walk up a mountain – it was definitely worth getting up early for.” 

A community of support

McGrew and Claussen agreed they are grateful for the experiences they’ve had here at UNI, and for the chance to attend the International Water Research Exchange Program in Japan.

“The trip to Japan, and all of the other opportunities I’ve had as a college student at UNI, wouldn't have been possible at a different university,” McGrew said. “There are so many opportunities here that just don’t exist anywhere else. Coming in as a freshman, I didn't expect to do undergraduate research at all, but I’m now involved in some water quality research with one of my professors where we’re analyzing water samples from Dry Run Creek. I also didn’t expect to have four different minors, but I’m able to do that here because the professors are so accommodating, and so willing to help you pursue your interests and goals. I’ve been lucky to do a lot of different things during my time here.”

For Claussen, who is now in her second year of geology research with a professor from her freshman year, it’s the same story.

“I really wasn’t even sure I was into geology, but a professor I had my freshman year invited me to do research and I was like ‘I guess I’ll do it,’ but I ended up liking it so much, I’m now in my second year of the research project,” Claussen said. “The connections you get with the professors here is something that you don’t find anywhere else. They really care about your learning, and they want you to love what you’re learning. Their passion is contagious and it makes you excited to learn.”