GLEC

Global and Local Environment Co-creation Institute, Ibaraki University
Established in 2020

Ibaraki University has established the Globaland Local Environment Co-creation Institute(GLEC), integrating the Center for Water
Environment Studies (CWES: established in1956 as Hinuma Hydrobiological Station) andthe Institute for Global Change Adaptation
Science (ICAS: established in 2006).
GLEC advances comprehensive research on
the global and local environment covering a
range of field sciences, and predictive andpolicy sciences to construct a center ofexcellence for research and education relatedto the environment. It strengthens research,education, and social cooperation related tosustainable co-creation to resolve
environmental issues.

Research

GLEC aims to establish a unique center of excellence for co-creative
research and education on the environment through community-based
efforts, and provides a platform through which diverse researchers
gather and cooperate, transcending and encompassing the frameworks ofhumanities and sciences. The idea is that co-creative research will bringabout a new and unique co-evolution of research and education.
Our visions and ideas include the following:

1

Unique center of excellence
for co-creative research andeducation to find comprehensive solutions to environmental, social, and policy issues

We propose visions for and solutions to the concept of a sustainable society against global andlocal changes in the environment. In pursuit of that objective, we publish and disseminate thevaluable fruits of academic activity through field-based surveys and research in multiple fields,
along with the construction of socio-environmental profiles integrating the data obtained. Therefore, we created a center of excellence for research and education to accomplish these objectives.

2Developing science throughinheriting achievements at ouruniversity and multilayered
integration of academic fields

We integrate field sciences, predictive and policy sciences, and practical technological development to solve issues. After finding solutions to resolve local difficulties, we apply them to domestic
and international issues. Thereby, we construct a multi-layered human networks combining ourdistrict, all of Japan, and the world.

3Taking over old and new“challenges”

We conduct surveys changing the shape of the local and global environment using multiple
methods of science and data recording, and hand them down to younger generations. In doing so,
we introduce new approaches of rapidly developing research methods involving digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and data science.

GLEC is designed for “think-tank functions of the local environment based on science”, “cultivation ofhuman resources,” and to realize a “hub of cooperation extending the experiences in Ibaraki throughout
Japan and the world.”■ Division of Climate Change■ Division of Environment in Basin Areas

We conduct studies on changes and mechanisms of the globaland local environments, evaluate their influences, and identify
countermeasures against those influences through mitigation andadaptation. Furthermore, we engage in research by exploringmeans of establishing resilience of natural environments,
humans, and society in confronting rapid climate change andnatural disasters on global and local scales.

We conduct research investigating rivers, lakes, and basins andstudy phenomena and mechanisms of the environments,vegetation, and ecology. Additionally, we carry out surveys andanalyses of the environment, vegetation, and ecologies in basins
to identify underlying problems.

■ Division of Environmental Adaptation■ Division of Human and Socioeconomics

Our themes are sustainable land utilization, agriculture and cattle
breeding, development of adaptive cultivation techniques,
restoration of vegetation in ecological systems and conservationof circulating soil and water, all under conditions of climatechange. We investigate the mechanisms of changes caused byvarying environments such as climate variation in humansettlement areas (e.g., farming villages) and their periphery(satoyama) and propose ways of adapting to them.

We find changes in human and social structures adapting toclimate change and propose new mechanisms against suchchanges. We coordinate knowledge to adapt to varying environments and make proposals for politics. In addition to considerations for nature, we investigate the concept of a sustainable
society, comprehensively solving the problems of the environment, society, and economics including those of safety assurance
for human beings, regional activation, human rights, and history.

in Agriculture and Ecosystems

Education■ Water Environmental Field Station
The research and education center is located by Kasumigaura, thesecond largest lake in Japan. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan placedit as one of the joint educationalsites in Japan for lake study to establish “A field education center forenvironmental science of the hydrosphere to advance multidirectional
understanding of relations between lake environments, ecology andhumans.”
Available for your use for practice and research are lakes, such as
Kasumigaura, rivers, agriculture areas, fisheries, tourism, geology, history,and disaster defense using local resources.
These activities include field training for undergraduate students,
academic studies for dissertations, and theses for master’ s and doctoratedegrees. The station is available for elementary, junior high, and highschool students and for workshops held by private enterprises andcitizens.
Check the webpage described below to learn more about the facilities
and instruments available for field training and research work, when you
can use them, and how to apply.
URL: http://www.cwes.ibaraki.ac.jp■ Education of Sustainability Science
The Graduate Program on Sustainability Science (GPSS) at Ibaraki
University offers common subjects shared by all four graduate schools.
Several subjects such as Fieldwork in Sustainability (International, inVietnam and others) and Fieldwork in Sustainability (Domestic, in Daigo
town and others) are available.
Ibaraki University is a member of the joint education program of theSustainability Science Consortium (SSC), along with the University ofTokyo, Osaka University, and United Nations University. Those who joined
this program and who earned the predetermined number of credits areprovided with a certificate of SSC completion.
Subject Group

Subject Name

Frontier of Sustainability Science

We present “Introduction to Sustainability Science” as a core
subject for undergraduate students. Lectures from all faculties
include discussions on climate change and sustainability. Paneldiscussions are also conducted.
Extending the traditional education of sustainability science, weare constructing an educational system for sustainable development goals (SDGs).

BasicSubjects

Master’s Program in Climate Change and Development
Vietnam-Japan University (VJU) was opened in September 2016. Ibaraki
University is the managing institute for the Master’ s Program in Climate
Change and Development (MCCD) to develop human resources that willtake an active role in international academic circles, possessing andapplying a high level of knowledge of climate change.
Faculty and other staff members of Ibaraki University provide lectures andthesis instruction for VJU students in Hanoi or through online facilities.
URL: https://vju.ac.vn/en

Global Environmental Systems I, II
Sustainable Social Systems I, II
Human Systems I, II
Fieldwork in SustainabilityCore
Subjects(International, in Vietnam and other places)

Fieldwork in Sustainability(Domestic, in Daigo town and other places)

Seminar in Developing Facilitation Capacity I, II

SpecializedSubjects■ Vietnam-Japan University:(*Remote English lecture combining SSC universities)

Offered by individual departments* SSC: Sustainability Science ConsortiumOrganization

Director and Deputy Directors

GLEC is a cross-faculty organization advancing
co-creation of global and local environments.
Researchers from all faculties and centers gather
there.
In addition to faculties in the former Center for Water
Environment Studies (CWES) and the Institute for
Global Change Adaptation Science (ICAS), facultyand staff who are assigned additional posts promoteresearch and education there.

Faculty and Concurrent Faculty Members, Researchers, etc.

Division of Climate Change

IbarakiLocal Climate Change
Adaptation Center

Division of Environment in Basin Areas

Water Environmental
Field Station

Division of Environmental Adaptationin Agriculture and Ecosystems
Division of Human and Socioeconomics

Ibaraki Local Climate Change
Adaptation Center

Local Governments

After enforcement of the Climate Change Adaptation
Act in 2018, the Ibaraki Local Climate Change
Adaptation Center (iLCCAC) was established in
2019. It is the fifth in Japan and the first among
universities.
The iLCCAC was established at Ibaraki University on
April 1, 2019 as “A site to collect, organize, analyze
information of climate change and adaptation andprovide technical suggestions” (Act No.13 in Climate
Change Adaptation Act) to cope with global warming
and climate change.
Cooperating with related organizations in Ibaraki
Prefecture, iLCCAC will project impacts of climatechange, evaluate adaptation policy, collect local
information, support adaptation planning, andcultivate human resources.

EducationCommittee

VJU Program
Steering Committee

Advisory Board

Residents of Ibaraki Prefecture

Planning for Adaptation of
Scientific Knowledge

Grasping Local Needs,
Information Provision

Ibaraki Local Climate Change
Adaptation Center (iLCCAC)

Collection and Provision of
Scientific Knowledge of Climate Change
National Institute forEnvironmental Studies

Collaborative Research,
Information Provision
Universities and Research Institutes

Center for Climate Change
Adaptation (CCCA)

URL: https://www.ilccac.ibaraki.ac.jpAccess(MEXT Joint Usage /Research Center)

GLEC has some offices in Ibaraki University.

Mito Campus
2-1-1 Bunkyo, Mito,
310-8512

Mito
Ekinan Satellite 2F

Water Environmental
Field Station

Sangyokaikan, 2-2-35
Sakuragawa, Mito,
310-0801

1375 Ohu, Itako,
311-2402

Hitachi Campus

Ami Campus

4-12-1 Nakanarusawa-cho, Hitachi,
316-8511

3-21-1 Chuo,
Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun,
300-0393

Hitachi
Mito

Ibaraki

GLEC

Global and Local Environment Co-creation Institute, Ibaraki University
E-mail｜glec-office@ml.ibaraki.ac.jp HP｜https://www.glec.ibaraki.ac.jp/en/Ami

Itako