NYK Line | News Releases | NYK Nature Fellowship Departure Ceremony Held

June 24, 2008

NYK Nature Fellowship Departure Ceremony Held

The NYK Group held a departure ceremony for the five student recipients of the 2008 NYK Nature Fellowship. This is the third time since 2006 that NYK has offered this fellowship. Once again, the NYK Group has teamed with Earthwatch Japan, a regional office of the Earthwatch Institute, an international nonprofit organization founded in Boston and now with offices all over the world. Earthwatch sends volunteers to research projects being conducted by scientists in various locations around the world.

The five students were selected from 50 undergraduate and graduate applicants by Yoko Takahashi, the chief executive officer of Japan Philanthropic Association; Isao Koike, auditor of Ryukyu University; and Kikujiro Nanba, the chief executive officer of Earthwatch Japan; among others. The selected students will soon depart for marine environment research to be conducted with volunteers from all over the world under the guidance of trained scientists.

After completing their volunteer work, these five students will visit the NYK Maritime Museum in Yokohama to report on their experiences. That event will take place in November.

As part of this fellowship, six NYK Group staff members have also been selected to accompany these five students on the following five projects:

South African penguins : participants will help protect biodiversity at a World Heritage site hosting the world's second-largest colony of African penguins.

Sharks and rays of Monterey : Participants will help seven species of sharks and rays recover from the devastating hunts of the mid-20th century.

Minke whales of the St. Lawrence : Participants will help researchers to identify individual minke whales and study their feeding behaviors.

Dolphins of Greece : Participants will follow bottlenose dolphins in Mediterranean waters to help scientists understand and protect them.

Spanish Dolphins : Participants will spend their days at sea, spotting dolphins and whales, and adding to the data that will help scientists protect these amazing animals.

South African penguins	: participants will help protect biodiversity at a World Heritage site hosting the world's second-largest colony of African penguins.
Sharks and rays of Monterey	: Participants will help seven species of sharks and rays recover from the devastating hunts of the mid-20th century.
Minke whales of the St. Lawrence	: Participants will help researchers to identify individual minke whales and study their feeding behaviors.
Dolphins of Greece	: Participants will follow bottlenose dolphins in Mediterranean waters to help scientists understand and protect them.
Spanish Dolphins	: Participants will spend their days at sea, spotting dolphins and whales, and adding to the data that will help scientists protect these amazing animals.