Job Opening
http://www.fc.chiba-u.jp/gaiyo/koubo/koubo.htm
Overview
In the 20th century, technology and the global economy developed enormously.
On the other hand, in many societies, the population aged as the birth
rate declined and, in the natural world, environmental pollution worsened.
In the 21st century, moreover, the same situation has continued. Thus,
the imbalances in society and in nature are growing, people are suffering
stress in both body and mind, and room to enjoy a life worth living is
steadily being lost. In response, the Center for Environment, Health and
Field Sciences, Chiba University, was founded in April 2003. Based on the
theme of “living in health,” the Center has been created as a place for
teaching and researching Oriental medicine, environmental health sciences,
and environmental horticulture. Diverse activities are conducted here for
various purposes: creating knowledge and educating talented individuals;
providing, together with the regional community, a practical place for
healing body and mind; and contributing to the betterment of society.
Organization
The Center was founded in April 2003 with 15 academic members
specializing in the Center activities and about 55 associate academic
members belonging to various faculties within Chiba University, and now
organized with 19 academic members. The Center was originated from the
farm that had been affiliated with Faculty of Horticulture. The Center
has two branch stations located in Shizuoka and Gunma Prefectures.
In the Center, the Kashiwanoha Kampo Clinic was started on June 2004 to
provide medical treatment harmonized with nature -mainly Kampo (Japanese
traditional medicine) or Oriental medicine treatment. Kashiwanoha
Acupuncture Clinic was also started on November 2006 to provide
treatment using acupuncture and moxibustion in the shopping center near
the Center.
The Center is located 400 m apart from Kashiwanoha Campus Station, in
Kashiwa city, of Tsukuba Express Railway, which has been opened in
August 2005. Thus, the visitors can reach the Center within half an hour
by train from Tokyo and Tsukuba Center Railway Stations. The Center is
also located 10 minutes away by car from Kashiwa Interchange of Joban
Highway.
Missions
Mission of the Center is to promote co-operative
research and educational activities:
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For creating urban environments
where people, especially children, aged and/or handicapped persons,
can enjoy their life with peaceful feelings and positive action.
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For creating symbiotic
societies, in a broad sense, with respect to health, welfare, care,
education and bio-production, based on a concept of 'Kampo' or oriental medicine
and philosophy unifying the mind with body into one, in co-operation
with various institutions and industries.
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For creating various
systems for production, material and energy recycling, resource
saving and environment conservation with full use of biological
abilities of self-organization, self-reproduction and self-remediation,
and for creating symbiotic social systems with full use of human
abilities of self-reflection and synergy.
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For training young researchers
and social leaders based upon the education programs developed by
the Center in co-operation with other institutions.
Activities
Chiba University Association for
Research in Sustainable Science
In CARSS, sustainability science as regards food and health is studied
in cooperation with, among others, the Integrated Research System
for Sustainability Science (IR3S), an institution centered at the
University of Tokyo. At present, empirical research using the
Kashiwanoha Campus and the surrounding area as a model is being
conducted on two projects, “Closed Systems with Artificial Light for
Plant Production” and the “Chemiless? Town Project.”
Chemiless Town Project
“Sick house syndrome”, a series of symptoms such as headache, dizziness,
and fatigue has been a problem in recent years. The syndrome is reported
to be caused by volatile chemicals from building materials, furniture or
electrical appliances. In this project, laboratory houses that have been
built with as few chemicals as possible will be used, and people who
have the syndrome will stay in the laboratory houses for a short term to
find out whether the cause of the syndrome is the house. Also, interior
materials and furniture that do not cause the syndrome will be studied.
Closed Systems with Artificial Light for Plant
Production
It is reported that horticultural plants can be efficiently produced in
a closed system with minimal resources including electric energy, water
and carbon dioxide, because of sufficient light for the plant
photosynthesis provided by artificial lamps (e.g., fluorescent lamps)
and its airtight structure. Through managing and operating the system,
the Center is seeking to advance agricultural and horticultural
education and to produce safe, secure, high-quality, and useful plants.
Therapeutic Effects of Nature
Five million years have passed
since human beings evolved. Moreover, 99.99% of that time was spent in
natural environments. Thus, although we now live in an artificial
environment, our bodies are adapted to nature. Accordingly, when we come
in contact with natural environments as represented by the therapeutic
effects of forests and horticultural therapeutic effects, we relax. The
purposes of this project are to elucidate this phenomenon using activity
indicators such as the brain, the autonomic nerves, internal secretions,
and immunity and to clarify the various aspects of the correspondence
between humans and the natural environment.
Human Health Science Project
In Oriental medicine, food and medicine are said to originate from the
same source. From this viewpoint, yakuzen (medicinal cooking in Oriental
medicine) is considered to be of the utmost importance. Based on the
concept of holistic medicine wherein mind and body are regarded as
unified, this project fosters the “same source for medicine/food/
agriculture” view of health, according to which agriculture is
approached in terms of the environment as well as work. Through
conducting research on using health-functional plants, this project aims
to improve people’s quality of life (QOL) .
Horticultural Therapy Project
Aiming to create a sustainable regional society through the therapeutic
and spiritually enriching use of horticultural work, the Center,
together with various departments inside the university and with welfare
facilities, hospitals and other organizations outside the university,
conducts research-mainly in the areas of measuring the effects that
horticultural work has on body and mind, developing effective work
programs based on evidence, and developing safe, easy-to-use equipment
and facilities-and puts the results into practice.
Rooftop Greening and Wall Greening
Rooftop greening and wall greening have attracted attention as a means
of alleviating the heat island phenomenon in cities. However, not much
attention has been paid to the types of plants that are planted in
rooftop flowerbeds and on walls. The Center conducts research on methods
of greening that increase heat insulation in summer and heat retention
in winter and are suitable for the regional environment, while also
retaining an ornamental appearance. Studies are conducted with regard to
discovering types of plants and creating urban environments that will
not only provide greater physical benefits, but will also beneficially
affect the human spirit.
Community Sports Project
Aiming to improve communication through experiential learning (play and
sports) and adventure education, to study methods of doing so, and to
form a community with sports at its core, the Center regularly holds, at
Lalaport and in Kashiwanoha, classes and participatory events designed
for sharing the wide-ranging pleasures and educational benefits of free
climbing.
Technical Education and Training
At the urban horticultural farm (17 ha) inside the city-based
Kashiwanoha Campus, at a sylvan horticultural farm (7 ha) situated in a
cold upland area (Numata City, Gunma Prefecture), and at a seaside
horticultural farm (5 ha) located in a warm area (Higashi-Izucho (Atagawa),
Shizuoka Prefecture), primarily technical and educational staff use each
location’s distinctive climate and facilities to conduct technical
education and training for a wide range of people, from students and
adult members of society to trainees from overseas.
Service
Agro-Products Shop (Mirakuru)
Seasonal agricultural products (vegetables, fruit, flowering
plants, etc.) harvested in student training on the Center’s three farms,
as well as processed goods such as jams and miso, are sold at this
agro-products shop. These products are extremely popular not only with
local residents but also with visitors to the Center. Many sell out
within 20 minutes of going on sale. Please be sure to stop by when
visiting the Center.
Hours: Weekdays (except holidays) 13:00-16:00
Kashiwanoha Kampo Clinic
The Kashiwanoha Kampo Clinic provides medical treatment harmonized with
nature -mainly Kampo (Japanese traditional medicine) treatment that is
geared to each individual’s physical constitution and improves the
body’s overall balance. The aim is not only to treat illness but also to
improve patients’ quality of life. Moreover, diagnosis and treatment are
actively conducted for mibyou: the disease-oriented status of an
individual who is in poor condition but not ill yet.
Hours: Weekdays (except holidays) 9:00-12:00,
13:30-16:30
Phone: +81-4-7137-8471
Kashiwanoha Acupuncture Clinic
Using acupuncture and moxibustion, this clinic provides treatment that
improves the body’s blood circulation and relieves localized problems
such as pain and stiffness. Indefinite complaints such as languor and
fatigue are also treated by gentle methods that do not burden the body.
The treatment rooms are bright and contain a dressing room partitioned
off by a curtain, where the patient can change into a robe for
treatment. Moreover, all used needles are discarded, so treatment can be
undertaken with peace of mind.
Hours:
10:00-12:00, 14:00-18:00 Closed: Wednesdays, Sundays, holidays
Phone: +81-4-7168-1762
Environmental Medicine Clinic
Scheduled to open in 2008, this clinic will provide medical consultation
about the effects of chemical pollution on human health, and measure the
pollutants such as PCBs or heavy metals in blood. Moreover, using
laboratory houses that are built with as few chemicals as possible,
patients with sick house syndrome can try to improve the symptoms. The
clinic will play an important role to establish the new concept of
“Environmental Preventive Medicine focusing on future generations.”
High-Technology Transplant Production Systems
This is the first such system to be introduced into a Japanese
university. It conducts education and research on how to create and
maintain environments in which vegetable seedlings and flower seedlings
can be grown in abundance; on reducing the costs of raising seedlings
and planting; and on stabilizing and improving the technology used in
raising seedlings. Through practical education, students can learn not
just about production technology but also about distribution technology
and sales. The purpose is to cultivate talented individuals with
practical abilities, including advanced technical knowledge.
