International Research Exchange brings Animal Ecology Graduate Students from Japan to Campus

"Konnichi wa" ('hello' in Japanese) was heard often in the halls of Bio Sci East in recent weeks. John Koprowski's research group is part of an exciting international research exchange funded by the Support Program for Improving Graduate School Education from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. The Laboratory of Animal Ecology at Tokyo Metropolitan University selected Dr. Koprowski's research group for this collaborative exchange because of a similar interest in using small mammals as models for questions in behavioral ecology, population ecology, and conservation. Five graduate students (Kanetoshi Ito, Reina Takechi, Shinsuke Sakamoto, Kaori Tsuchiya, and Maya Kobayashi) from TMU visited from 20 to 29 February 2008 with an expressed goal to interact with graduate students in Dr. Koprowski's research group. On Friday 22 February, students in each of the research groups, staff and invitees provided 17 research presentations as part of a stimulating joint symposium. Additionally, visits to John's seminar course in Small Mammal Conservation and Management and research sites in the Chiricahua and Santa Catalina Mountains provided ample opportunity for research focused interaction, whereas additional visits to the Fiesta de los Vaqueros, The Native American Art and Culture Festival, and the Grand Canyon rounded out the experience. Plans are currently underway for a reciprocal research exchange and symposium to take place in Tokyo during 2008-2009. "

Link to the Laboratory of Animal Ecology at TMU: http://dept.biol.metro-u.ac.jp/en-labo.asp?ID=en-anieco