Program Title: TKT Campus Asia Program _ 2017 Winter Research
Study Period: 2017.12.08- 2018.02.17
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
- Management Engineering (Master Candidate)
- Civil and Environmental Engineering (B.S.)
Research Theme
- Life Cycle Assessment and Techno Economic Assessment on an Aquaponics System
Greetings! I am very happy to conclude my 9 weeks of Tokyo Tech life. The experience of TKT Campus Asia program at Tokimatsu sensei’s lab became one of my stepping - stone which guides me the next goal to me. I appreciate that I could challenge myself to seek the topic that I have interested in. And I feel gratitude to my supportive professor Tokimatsu, the staffs of Campus Asia Program and the lab mates who inspired me in the daily life.
In Tokyo tech, I could spend time following my curiosity towards Aquaponics system and Life Cycle Thinking. The motivation was to figure out the appropriate level of aquaponics system for developing countries since I believe the aquaponics system combined hydropincs and aquaculture can solve food insecurity in the developing countries. With the supportive research atmosphere, I could keep find answers for my successive questions throughout literature reviews and commentary from professor. During the program, I could understand the challenges of the aquaponics system and discover the research opportunities regarded the topic: LCA and TEA on an aquaponics system. Greatfully, the professor Tokimatsu suggested me to apply for the Ecobalance 2018 conference. Although I have longer step to participate for the conference, I submitted the abstract last Feb. This would be my next motivation for me to conduct the research when I go back to Korea. Moreover, cultural experience and learning Japanese were another interesting parts during the program. Even though both of Korea and Japan share South East Asia’s common cultural background, still I could discover small and big spectrum differences. I got impression by Japanese sophisticated products and user friend designed service in Japan. On the other hand, I still have unsolved curiosity on IT Technology acceptance in Japan. Although Japan was one of the fastest industrialized country in Asia, I couldn’t see the Uber, sharing bicycle, food delivery application which is now very widespread in China and Korea. I wondered the underneath background.
Lastly, I’d like to mention about my laboratory. Under the very liberal and diverse atmosphere in the lab with numerous international friends, I enjoyed the communication a lot with my lab mates. I could think about the sound attitude to the research, and learn how to encourage others. I’d like to express my last appreciation to my lab mates, Muhammad who were very willingness to encourage about my research, Takaki who was teaching me daily Japanese words, the great buddy Jo, Reza who provides considerate commentaries, Pai who became my best friend, Rico who is guidance of all Indonesian cuisine, and all the members I met in the lab. Back in Korea, I brought the several future tasks from Japan, but I am very happy to take this responsibility and the chance of learning. Thank you! ありがどうございます！