Award Ceremony 2008
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The Award Ceremony for the 2008 (16th) International Cosmos Prize was held at Izumi Hall, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, on November 4th, 2008. Some 420 participants attended the event, including distinguished guests from Japan and abroad.
At 3:00 p.m., the Ceremony commenced with dignified music played by a pipe organist. The Chairpersons of the International Cosmos Prize Committee and the Screening Committee of Experts took the dais and introduced the members of the irrespective committees.
Next, the guests of honor took the platform and were introduced to the audience. They included His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Phu Binh, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Tetsuro Nomura, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (on behalf of Minister, MAFF); Ms. Michiko Matsuda, Deputy Director-General, City and Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (on behalf of Minister, MLIT); Mr. Yasuyuki Ogawa, Vice Governor, Osaka Prefecture(on behalf of Governor,Osaka Prefecture); Mr. Satoru Morishita, Deputy Mayor, Osaka City(on behalf of Mayor,Osaka City).
President Makino then declared the Ceremony open and Chairperson Imai delivered an address on behalf of the host organization.
Then, Dr. Akito Arima, as Chairperson of the International Cosmos Prize Committee, introduced the prizewinner and presented the reasons for the award. Dr. Phan Nguyen Hong, the 2008 Cosmos Prizewinner, took the platform to a warm round of applause. Chairperson Arima described the prizewinner selection process.
Dr. Phan Nguyen Hong was awarded a commendation, a supplementary prize and a medallion by Chairperson Imai and Deputy Chairperson Akio Nomura.
Mr. Tetsuro Nomura read a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Taro Aso, and Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Phu Binh made a congratulatory speech.
Finally, Dr. Phan Nguyen Hong delivered the prizewinner's address. A further round of applause for Dr. Phan brought the first section of the Ceremony to a close.
In the second, celebratory, section of the Ceremony, introductory images of the prizewinner were presented on the screen. The ceremony was concluded with celebratory musical performances by a pianist and the ensemble.
Commemorative Lectures
To commemorate the 16th International Cosmos Prize, the Expo'90 Foundation organized various events.
Lecture Meetings were held under the theme "Mangroves and coastal dwellers in Vietnam: A long and hard Journey back to harmony", at Kyoto University on November 2nd, and at Tokyo University of Agriculture on November 7th.There also was High School Visit by Prizewinner organized at Hibiya High School on November 5th.
Commemorative Lecture in Kyoto attended by120 people
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| Theme | Mangroves and coastal dwellers in Vietnam: A long and hard Journey back to harmony |
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| Presenter | Mr. Kazuo Matsushita (Professor, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University) |
| Discussion | Dr. Takakazu Yumoto(Professor, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature |
| Place | Kyoto University, Shiran Kaikan |
| Supporters | The Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries. The Ministry of Land,Infrastructure,Transport and Tourism. The Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology The Ministry of Environment Embassy of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. The Japan Society of Tropical Ecology. Japan Society for mangroves. International Society for Mangrove Ecosystem(ISME) |
Commemorative Lecture and Symposium in Tokyo attended by200 people
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| Theme of Symposium | "The World of Dr.Phan Nguyen Hong" |
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| Coordinator | Dr. Kunio Iwatsuki (Director , Museum of Nature and Human Activities,Hyogo) |
| Panelists | Dr. Shigeyuki Baba(Professor, Ryukyu University and President of ISME) Mr. Motohiko Kogo (Representative, ACTMANG) Dr. Takehisa Nakamura(Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of Agriculture) Dr. Tomoko Nakanishi(Professor, Global Agricultural Sciences, Tokyo University) |
| Place | Tokyo University of Agriculture, Media Hall |
| Supporters | Tokyo University of Agriculture The Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries. The Ministry of Land,Infrastructure,Transport and Tourism. The Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology The Ministry of Environment Embassy of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. The Japan Society of Tropical Ecology. Japan Society for mangroves. International Society for Mangrove Ecosystem(ISME) |
High School Visit by Prizewinner attended by400 people
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| Theme | Challenge of climate change and sea level rise in Vietnam -The role of rehabilitated mangroves in adoption- |
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| Place | Seiryo Kaikan Hall , Tokyo Metropolitan Hibiya High School |