The 6th Short Field Visit was held.

The 6^th short field visit was conducted from the 26th to the 27^th of August 2014. Twelve people, including both program students and teaching staff visited Rokkasho Visitor’s Center and Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited, and the Institute for Environmental Sciences in Aomori prefecture.

At the Rokkasho Visitor’s Center participants were briefed on Rokkasho village and Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited (JNFL). They observed mock-ups of the plants nuclear fuel cycle, as well as disposal and storage of low & high level radioactive waste.

They visited JNFL to observe the reprocessing plant, the low-level radioactive waste disposal center, and the vitrified waste storage center while there. They learned about the process and principles of the nuclear fuel cycle, final disposal of low-level radioactive waste, and the vitrification and storage of high-level radioactive waste.

At the Institute for Environmental Sciences, after a brief explanation about the said institute, the group observed the artificial climate experiment facility and the closed ecology experiment facility of the department of radioecology. They learned about research on the parameters of radioactive materials in plants and the environment. They visited an advanced molecular bio-science research center of the department of radiobiology and observed the analysis of abnormal chromosomes. They broadened their knowledge about the long term low dose radiation exposure research being carried out on mice.

The common feeling among students was that it was a worthwhile experience to visit these research facilities, and laboratories focused on radiation research to enhance their interdisciplinary knowledge, especially for the liberal arts students.

At the Rokkasho Visitor’s Cneter 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 At the Institute for Environmental Sciences