The local community resilience team, Rye Emergency Action Team (REACT), is often contacted by those carrying out research into flood risk and related issues – and the latest comes from Japan.
Saki Yotsui from Kyoto University is taking part in a Japanese Government funded programme at Cambridge University. A civil engineer by background, for her doctorate she is now looking at some of the consequences of disasters and the Fukushima nuclear disaster in particular.
Her UK supervisor asked if she could visit Rye to carry out some research into flood risk perception as part of her PhD research and REACT is helping her with a survey for her thesis.
On one visit to Rye, REACT Team leader Dr Anthony Kimber arranged for Saki to visit Rye College, where Principal Ann Cockerham kindly assembled some College and Studio School students to meet her.
After tasting Saki’s Japanese chocolate green tea flavoured biscuits, and hearing about Saki’s research, there was a fascinating wide ranging discussion about culture and education in UK and Japan – including a full explanation of the Japanese language.
Rye students were horrified to hear that in Japan students have to clean their school every day and that even High School students have to rest for 15 minutes in the afternoon. As Saki returns to Japan at the end of March we hope to keep in touch as her study progresses.
Photo : Anthony Kimber