Press Releases


April 16, 2010
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

Public Open day for JAMSTEC Yokosuka HQ

The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) will be hosting an open house of its Yokosuka head quarters on Saturday, May 22, 2010. As part of the National Science and Technology Week events, the open house is designed to enhance public understanding and awareness of ocean research activities and technology development being undertaken by JAMSTEC.

Yokosuka HQ Open House Details

1.Date and time : Saturday, May 22, 2010, 9:30~16:00
(last admission: 15:30)
2.Venue : JAMSTEC Headquarters in Yokosuka 2-15, Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka
(Free shuttle bus services available from Keihin-kyuko Oppama Station)
3. Admission : Free

*An open house takes place annually in the other JAMSTEC facilities.

  • Yokohama Institute for Earth Sciences (YES)
  • Mutsu Institutes for Oceanography (MIO)
  • Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research
  • Global Oceanographic Data Center (GODAC, Nago City in Okinawa)

Details of the open house at each site will be posted when available.

The Earth Science museum at YES is open to the public on weekdays and third Saturdays. GODAC is open annually, except for Mondays, public holidays, and the year-end and New Year period.

Open house features:

(1)

Special event for the International Year of Biodiversity(IYB)

  • Photo exhibits and talks about deep-sea organisms
    Researchers will talk about life and ecology of deep-sea creatures using their photos.

[Topics]

  • “Deep-sea treasures”
    Yoshihiro Fujiwara (Institute of Biogeosciences)
  • “Tough works for discovering deep-sea hydrothermal vents”
    Shinsuke Kawagucci(Precambrian Ecosystem Laboratory Unit)
  • “Searching for ancient hydrothermal fields in the desert”
    Takezo Shibuya(Precambrian Ecosystem Laboratory Unit)
  • Learn more about the Earth’s system

A variety of science experiments, as shown below, will provide windows to the Earth’s interior.

- Rock sample observations
- Examination of rocks and metals squeezed under extremely high pressures and temperatures
- Earthquake wave measurement
- Formation of caldera
- Formation of accretionary prism

Research activities by the Deep-Sea Drilling vessel “CHIKYU” and the supercomputer “Earth simulator” will also be introduced.

(2)

Research facilities and laboratory tours

  • Open house of research facilities and “Earth Science quizzes”
    Exhibits of observation instruments, microscopic observation of microfossils, science experiments, a paper craft class and many others
  • Laboratory tours (participants selected by lot on the day)
- Deep-sea biosphere research
Learn about deep-sea creature, from fish to microorganisms
- High precision analysis
Visit the mass spectrometry laboratory for dating rock and sediment samples
(3)

Open seminars

  • “State and fate of snow/ice on earth under the global warming”
    Tetsuo Oohata (Research Institute for Global Change)
  • “Ocean drilling hunts for the undiscovered treasure sleeping in the deep sea hot spring”
    Ken Takai (Institute of Biogeosciences)
  • “Eight picturesque deep sea views of the Japanese islands and its environs”
    Kantaro Fujioka (Advanced Research and Technology Promotion Department)
(4)

Science Café

  • “The CHI-Q, Trivia of Deep-sea Drilling Vessel CHIKYU
    Shinichi Kuramoto(Center for Deep Earth Exploration)
  • “Generation mechanism of geomagnetic field in the Earth’s core”
    Takehiro Miyagoshi (Institute for Research on Earth Evolution)
  • “Footprint of climate change depicted by global oceanic salinity”
    Shigeki Hosoda (Research Institute for Global Change
  • “Tropical clouds and rain”
    Ryuichi Shirooka(Research Institute for Global Change)
(5)

Cruise aboard the Research Vessel KAIYO (190 passengers each by lot)

- Morning cruise(10:30~11:30): Pre-entry is required, by Wednesday, May 10th, by post or through our website.
(https://www.jamstec.go.jp/j/form/kaiyo_taiken_2010/) (in Japanese).
- Afternoon cruise(14:00~15:00): Entry on the day by 11:00.

*The cruising might be cancelled in case of bad weather.

(6)

Open house of the Deep Sea Research Vessel KAIREI and the exhibit of the 7000m-class remotely operated vehicle KAIKO II

Open: 9:30~16:00 (Last admission 15:30; No pre-entry required)

(7)

Entry into the cockpit of the manned research submersible SHINKAI 2000 (limited to 72 people)

Every hour from 10:00 to 15:00, 12 people chosen by lot each time

(8)

Kids park (Hands-on activities for kids)

  • Story telling
  • Science experiments
  • Paper craft class and many others
(9)

Exhibits of research equipment and findings

  • Unmanned Deep-sea underwater vehicle PICASSO (Plankton Investigatory Collaborating Autonomous Survey System Operon)
  • Specimens of deep-sea creatures
  • Ocean bottom seismograph(OBS), m-TRITON, buoys and marine observation systems
  • Instruments and equipment for observation, experiments and analysis, including the hyperbaric chamber
  • Achievements from geological research and observations
(10)

Other highlights

  • Water survival demonstration, e.g. swimming in closes
  • Art of blanket folding
  • Rope work
  • Hands-on experiment: rainbow-colored bees and a fuel cell
  • Introduction of JAMSTEC web contents
  • Quizzes and stamp rally
  • Shops (publications and items)

Sponsors:
Yokouska City, Oppama-Administration Center, Oppama Tourism Association, Kanagawa Prefectural Marine Science High School, Nissan Motor Company, Enoshima Aquarium, Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, Nippon Marine Enterprises, Marine Works Japan, Global Ocean Development, and Mantle Quest Japan Company

Contacts:

Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
(For the open house)
Yasushi Taya
Director, Public Relations Division
Advanced Research and Technology Promotion Department
(For publication)
Toru Nakamura, e-mail: press@jamstec.go.jp
Manager, Planning Department Press Office