By Jaimie Woodard, ’02
Preparing for what will undoubtedly be one of the most enriching experiences of his life, John Waldron, University of West Florida assistant professor of Environmental Studies, will participate in the UWF Summer Semester in Japan Program. Through the program, Waldron and five students from varying majors will travel to Japan May 16 through June 30. Hoping to share his experiences with others, Waldron will maintain a blog on the Pensacola News Journal Web site throughout the trip and will post stories and photos from the journey.
“While in Japan, I will be teaching ‘Geography of Japan’ and ‘Seminar in Environmental Issues,” said Waldron “This will be my first time in Japan, so in addition to teaching, I will be doing a lot of exploring and will also be looking for new research opportunities.”
Situated on the Pacific Coast of Asia, Japan is home to the world’s 10th largest population with approximately 128 million people. Only 20 to 30 percent of the nation’s land is suitable for agricultural, industrial and residential use, therefore causing significant environmental challenges for what is the 13th most densely populated country in the world. The second largest economy, only preceded by the United States, Japan’s biggest environmental challenges include air pollution, waste management, nature conservation and climate change. Facing serious challenges, the Japanese are also leading the world in improving environmental sustainability through reduced energy consumption and development of new environmentally-friendly technologies.
“I am fascinated with Japan’s unique cultural-historical development in relation to its environmental issues,” said Waldron. “While in Japan, I hope to provide students with some first-hand insights on how one of the world’s other largest economies is dealing with a variety of environmental issues.”
Waldron will teach UWF students at the Fukuoka Communication Arts College located in Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands. His main focus and research areas are biogeography and landscape ecology. He studies the spatial patterns and organization of vegetation and how physical factors such as climate, soils and topography, as well as a human factors such as urbanization, affect the distribution and abundance of plant species across broad areas.
“Our environment is the basis of everything we do from how we build our roads and buildings to the types of food we grow to recreational opportunities,” said Waldron. “Without understanding our environment, we wouldn’t get very far as a species.”
In addition to teaching, Waldron will also have the unique opportunity to experience Japanese culture every day for the six weeks he will be there. Among many places, he and the students plan to visit is the city of Minamata. Minamata is the site of one of Japan’s greatest environmental disasters. In the 1950s and 1960s, mercury from industrial wastewater accumulated in fish and shellfish in the area killing more than 700 people and severely crippling thousands of others. Today, Minamata is a model environmental city, describing itself as an “ecopolis.”
“When you are in another place, everything from eating out to shopping to walking down the street is a cultural experience,” said Waldron.
Waldron holds a bachelor's in anthropology and a master's in geography from Ohio University, a master's in anthropology from Ball State University and a doctorate in geography from Texas A&M University.
Be a part of the journey – check out Waldron’s blog.
