Discovering the Japanese forest and the sea, termal sources still unknown, and more than anything, creating the first garden entirely auonomous thanks to the onsens !

7-9 years 10-12 years - R&D
Lieu : Izu Hantô (Japan)
Domaines : Environment, Geology, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Energy, Ecology, Water,
Participants : 20
Encadrants : 4 Sciences Educators

Contacts >>>

Dates, tarifs et inscription >>>

Japan, like European countries, used to enjoy a very varied fauna and flora. Yet, because of mass industrialization and because of ressources exploitation, this variety is nowadays in danger and even dying out.

For instance, in the Izu archipelago, the Ijima warbler (Phylloscopus ijimae) – unique in Japan – used to be a very common bird. But today, it has become rare because of the progressive disappearance of natural forests.

Our Centre for Scientific Living in Japan, hidden on the Izu peninsula shore, is located in the middle of one of the richest area in the country regarding onsens. The onsens, these hot water sources, so important in Japanese people’s life, represent incredible energetic and mineral resources. So why not using these characteristics in order to create the onsen garden, a real autonomous vegetable garden, permanent and self-sufficient. This is an innovating research project which fully corresponds to the ONSEN Program reasoning. More than anything, a “garden” of that kind has the advantage of uprising and protecting biodiversity.

Our first step will be to characterize the typical ecosystems of these hot water sources in order to understand better their functioning and to offer the most appropriate solutions. Basing your work on the results that the precedent team will have gotten, you will then have to visit the onsens of the area, analyze their flora, the chemical composition of water and soil... Thanks to these precious data, we will have the opportunity to seek for a new onsen still unknown.

During your stay, you will have the opportunity to share your knowledge with the team of the Onsen House whose project is going on in parallel of yours. More than this, as it is the case for all the Objectif Sciences International camps, your team and yourself will be in charge of publishing your own researches and results day by day using the website of the association.

Of course, these adventures will give you the opportunity to explore the area deeply and to discover forests, rivers, beaches or waterfalls under the summer sun. Swimming, games, sports, Japanese classes and karaoke will also be offered to you. « Matane »... then [1] !

[1] “Matane” means « see you soon » in Japanese

Contacts >>>

Dates, tarifs et inscription >>>