The Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS) hosted the NERPS 2024 Conference from March 6-9, 2024 in Higashi-Hiroshima campus of Hiroshima University. This was the third international conference organized by NERPS as one of the events commemorating the 75+75th anniversary of the founding of Hiroshima University.
The opening ceremony and keynote addresses held at Higashi Hiroshima Arts & Culture Hall Kurara on March 6th was organized as a public event for citizens in cooperation with Higashihiroshima City. The event began with the opening remarks by Prof. Mitsuo Ochi, President of Hiroshima University, followed by Higashihiroshima Vice Mayor, Mr. Kuniharu Maenobe. The first keynote speaker, Prof. Atsushi Sunami, President of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and Special Advisor to the President for Strategic Partnership of The National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies talked about the initiatives of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation towards guaranteeing peace and sustainability. The second keynote speaker, Ms. Chisa Mikami Head of Office, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Hiroshima, then shared about the contributions of UNITAR to peace and sustainability. Afterwards, Prof. Shinji Kaneko, Executive Vice President and NERPS Director, Hiroshima University / Conference Chair, highlighted Hiroshima University’s efforts toward peace and sustainability and the purpose of this international conference.
NERPS 2024 Conference was attended by 175 researchers, practitioners, and students from 100 universities, research institutes, and NGOs in 29 countries, and provided scholarships for 12 students from developing countries. A total of 48 sessions and 181 oral presentations were held, including the pre-conference workshops from March 4th to 5th, 2024.
During the closing ceremony, the conference co-chairs, Prof. Ayyoob Sharifi and Dr. Dahlia Simangan of the IDEC Institute of Hiroshima University, presented the awards to three outstanding papers and three best oral presentations of the NERPS 2024 Conference. Concluding the conference was Prof. Shinji Kaneko who gave a summary and announced that De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila, Philippines will be the partner university and venue for the NERPS 2025 Conference. DLSU Vice President for External Relations and Internationalization, Dr. Lauryn Chua-Garcia, took the stage online to invite the international conference participants to next year’s conference.
Best Paper: Reduce Corruption Risks in Defense Personnel: GDI Framework
Best Paper: Is Ecosystem Resilience Acting as a Protection against High-Temperature-Induced Child Mortality in India?
Best Paper: Justice in Access to Urban Ecosystem Services: A Critical Review of the Literature
Best Presentation: Bridging the Gap: Socio-economic Challenges and Psychological Insecurities among Aging Population of Bangladesh
Best Presentation: Supply Shocks in Global Value Chains and Export Performance: Firm and Product Level Evidence from Bangladesh
Best Presentation: Interstate Environmental Peacebuilding: A Systematic Review
Parallel sessions, welcome dinner, and excursion
The Institute for Economics & Peace, in collaboration with Positive Peace Society of Hiroshima University, conducted a 2-day Positive Peace Workshop as a pre-conference event.
The NERPS 2024 Conference was supported by its conference partners, Columbia University, Murdoch University, Geociências, Chongqing University, Davao del Norte State College, Asian Institute of Technology, Groundwater Research Center of São Paulo, Center for Social Change, Habib Institute of Asian Studies of University of Idaho, Grenoble Ecole de Management, Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC), Urban Institute, Linköping University, and University of New South Wales.
Summary written by Dita Pelawi, NERPS Student Fellow
Testimonials from our NERPS 2024 Conference
Attending the NERPS 2024 conference at Hiroshima University (HU) was truly an enlightening and transformative experience for me. I not only got the chance to share my research but also made wonderful new friends and connected with inspiring individuals from around the world who motivated me to broaden my understanding of biodiversity and ecosystems while emphasizing the urgency of addressing environmental degradation. I left the conference with a renewed sense of purpose, feeling incredibly empowered and determined to continue my efforts toward safeguarding our oceans and preserving biodiversity for the well-being of all living creatures. NERPS at Hiroshima University exemplifies the pivotal role academia plays in driving positive change, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it. I will cherish those moments forever.
Kholoud Jaffel (Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand)
Attending the NERPS conference was a transformative experience in my academic journey. Engaging with leading experts, exploring cutting-edge research, and networking with fellow scholars truly enriched my understanding of the field. The dynamic discussions and insightful presentations left an indelible mark on me. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate and highly recommend this conference to anyone passionate about advancing their knowledge. My heartfelt thanks to the organizers for their hard work in creating such a valuable platform for academic exchange.
Fahad Shah (Hiroshima University, Japan)
Attending the NERPS-2024 conference proved immensely enriching. The wide array of topics sparked vibrant discussions and offered valuable insights across various fields. Witnessing experts from diverse disciplines share their knowledge fostered a collaborative environment conducive to innovation and learning. Interacting with scholars, researchers, and practitioners from varied backgrounds expanded my horizons and deepened my understanding of interdisciplinary approaches to complex issues. Moreover, the conference facilitated networking, allowing for meaningful connections with like-minded individuals and the potential for future collaborations. Overall, I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this conference and honored to have been recognized as a best presenter.
Dr. Mumita Tanjeela (East West University, Bangladesh)
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