National Institute for Environmental Studies Summer Open House July 21 (Saturday), 2012 "Have Fun, Learn, and Boost your Eco-Power!"

The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), is pleased to announce its annual Summer Open House, to be held on July 21 (Saturday), 2012. The theme of this year’s event is "Have Fun, Learn, and Boost your Eco-Power!"
On the day there will be many enjoyable events which will allow visitors to enjoyably learn about all the hot environmental issues and current research at NIES. These events will include talks, such as those on energy and climate change issues ("Climate Change: That’s what I wanted to know!"); activities, which will allow you to touch and observe up-close some "familiar creatures"; guided tours of the attractions in English; and access to many facilities and laboratories which are not normally open to the public. This year, the NIES Summer Open House will also host the exhibition and prize-giving ceremony for the "1st NIES Picture Competition"

• 1st NIES Picture Competition

Date : July 21 (Saturday), 2012
Time : 09:30-16:00 (Reception closes 15:00)
Venue : National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, JAPAN
Reception : Participation is free. Just turn up on the day(Groups of more than 15 persons should contact in advance)

Access :
●くろまる From Tsukuba Center, take Nishi Odori south. Pass Minami Odori, Ninomiya House, and Doho Park. You will see a Coco's Restaurant on your left. Turn right at that intersection. (If you reach Route 354, you have gone one intersection too far.)
●くろまる There is limited parking and visitors are strongly encouraged to come to the event by means of eco-friendly transport such as the Free Shuttle Bus, bicycle, etc., rather than using their own cars.
●くろまる Free Shuttle Bus
◇ From Tsukuba Express (TX) Tsukuba Station (see map). Buses depart every 5-10 minutes
◇ From Hitachinoushiku: Take the east exit of JR Hitachinoushiku station. Buses every 20 minutes

●くろまる Bus
◇ From Tsukuba Station
Take the bus for Hitachino-ushiku departing from Bus Stop 4, and get off at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (around 10 minutes)
◇ From JR Hitachino-ushiku Station
East exit, Bus Stop 1, take either the bus departing for "Tsukuba Center" or "Tsukuba University Central" and get off at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (around 13 minutes)

(1) What is going on during the NIES Summer Open House?

●くろまる Events for everyone: with over 60 exhibitions, talks and activities on offer, there will be something for everyone, from young children to adults
●くろまる Exhibition of the finalists, and prize-giving ceremony for the "1st NIES Picture Contest"
●くろまる Initiatives to promote the use of eco-friendly commutation to the NIES Summer Open House

△しろさんかく Free shuttle bus between TX Tsukuba Station / JR Hitachinoushiku Station and NIES △しろさんかく Free LED keychain to all visitors who use eco-friendly means (Bicycle, walking, free shuttle bus) to come to NIES

(2) Main Program (abridged)

Activities and Interactive Events
●くろまる Shark and octopus touch pool
●くろまる Bio-gel beads which purify the environment
●くろまる Look! Touch! Smell!: Interact with algae corner
●くろまる Listen to the world underwater: This is what it sounds like when fish cry?
●くろまる Look at your own DNA!....and bring home a picture
●くろまる Make a DNA and dioxin model using balloons
●くろまる Electric vehicles and eco-driving: what does the future have in store?
●くろまる English Guided Tours

△しろさんかく This year there will be three tours: Tour A (10:30-11:30), Tour B (12:30-13:30), and Tour C (14:00-15:00)
△しろさんかく All three tours will have different and exciting content (explanations of research, facilities, and environmental issues in English; interactive activities, etc.)
△しろさんかく Please come to the main reception if you would like to take part in the English guided tours
△しろさんかく Each tour will be limited to 20 participants per tour; first-come, first-served

Facilities
●くろまる What exactly is a Time Capsule?
●くろまる Introduction to the Thermal Treatment Plant experimental facilities

Exhibitions/Introduction of Research
●くろまる Facing up to disaster and radioactive waste: Towards recovery of the disaster zone and appropriate disposal
●くろまる Think!: Energy and energy conservation

Other
●くろまる "1st NIES Picture contest", exhibition and prize-giving ceremony
●くろまる Stamp rally: collect them all and get special flower seeds
●くろまる All visitors to the Open House will receive special NIES mementos, including an original NIES Eco-bag
●くろまる Much, much more