IHI Group Holds Course on Forest Ecosystems and Soil in Nagano Prefecture
On November 1 and 2, employees from IHI and IHI Rotating Machinery Engineering helped to conduct a course on forest ecosystems and soil for year six students at Tatsuno Nishi Elementary School in Tatsuno, Nagano Prefecture. This was part of the close ongoing engagement of IHI Rotating Machinery Engineering’s site in the town’s community over the past eight decades. The course was in keeping with the IHI Group’s commitment to having its operations help advance the educations of local elementary and junior high school students. IHI and the Institute of Science & Education of Ochanomizu University jointly developed the curriculum. The lecturer was Project Associate Professor Kazuya Yoshimura from that institute.
After a session on the soil organisms that decompose fallen leaves and dead animals, the students sketched organisms by using microscopes to observe soil samples from the school grounds and IHI Rotating Machinery Engineering’s site. Project Associate Professor Yoshimura explained how these organisms help create soil that nourishes forests.
The students thoroughly enjoyed the course, particularly the observation segments, and learned much about the importance of maintaining ecosystems. One participant became interested in taking care of the soil after learning that the school is home to so many soil organisms. Another found Project Associate Professor Yoshimura’s experiments a lot of fun.
The IHI Group will keep helping to enlighten young people about our world through such initiatives.
