MeeƟ ng of NANO Alumni with the Nippon FoundaƟ on and POGO members

1 Post Doctoral Scholar, Okinawa InsƟ tute of Science and Technology, Japan Wikipage: hƩ p://www.nf-pogo-alumni.org/~Yuna+Zayasu 2 Faculty, Physical Research Laboratory, India Wikipage: hƩ p://www.nf-pogo-alumni.org/~Arvind+Singh

We, the NANO Alumni, were thrilled when we received a invitaƟ on from Dr. Vikki Cheung on behalf of the POGO ExecuƟ ve Director to parƟ cipate in the 17 th POGO Annual MeeƟ ng and the side meeƟ ngs that were to be held from 25 th to 29 th January 2016 in Yokohama, Japan hosted by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). We happily accepted their invitaƟ on. Eight NANO Alumni joined us on the 27 th January for our meeƟ ng with the Nippon foundaƟ on and POGO members to present our NANO Projects and how the (Nippon FoundaƟ on funded) trainings have benefi ted our research and career. Mr. Unno and Mr. Ogiue from the Nippon FoundaƟ on (NF) and all members of POGO aƩ ended the NANO recepƟ on on the 27 th January. Prof. Karen Wiltshire, POGO chair and Vice Director of Alfred Wegener InsƟ tute (AWI) for Polar

and Marine Research, extended her graƟ tude to the Nippon foundaƟ on for providing conƟ nued support for POGO training programs. Mr. Unno addressed us on behalf of Mr. Sasakawa, the chairman of the NF. He introduced NF and its support to POGO iniƟ aƟ ves, and how they aim to educate and encourage children and young fellows to culƟ - vate future leaders in internaƟ onal ocean aff airs. Mr. Unno asked us several interesƟ ng quesƟ ons, such as: How and why we got interested in oceanography? What triggered and moƟ vated us to become oceanographers? What was the most interesƟ ng thing in studying the ocean? It was also interesƟ ng for NANO alumni to hear stories and answers from their fellow colleagues. Mr. Unno told us about Photo taken during the meeƟ ng between NANO Alumni and POGO the importance of networks of people, friends, collaboExecuƟ ve members rators and co-workers. He said that this partnership will complement our strengths. With that, he concluded the fi rst half of the NANO recepƟ on. AŌ erwards, other POGO members and young scienƟ sts from JAMSTEC joined us. Prof. Shirayama from JAMSTEC opened the poster session with a brief introducƟ on of NANO members and young scienƟ sts who presented posters. The poster session was held in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Our posters were about the NANO and its regional research and outreach projects. Further, all of NANO parƟ cipants gave short talks about the benefi t they have experienced from the POGO training program, current research interests and their involvement with the network.

Group photo taken at the conclusion of the meeƟ ng. Photo courtesy

We spent one aŌ ernoon on RV Mirai, the Japanese research vessel. It is considered one of the largest research vessel of the world. We were shown chemical analysis laboratories, a weather staƟ on and various instruments used on the ship rouƟ nely. Finally, we were happy to meet other NANO Alumni who had aƩ ended the CofE at the Bermuda InsƟ tute of Ocean Sciences or other NF-POGO courses. It was a great way to bring together people who we know via online chat or google group emails. It was a four-day great reunion of a family that has spread to every corner of this globe and of Nippon FoundaƟ on

is commiƩ ed to ocean research and collaboraƟ on. We hope to conƟ nue this way in future.