Chilean Blog
Great Eco-Minds Gather in Rotorua
Friday, 12 June 2009
Late last month in Rotorua, New Zealand the biennial Eco-Minds Youth Forum brought together 25 like-minded students from nine Asia-Pacific countries to seek integrated solutions to environment and energy issues. Despite different educational and cultural backgrounds, the participants had at least one thing in common - the strong desire to bring about sustainability and a healthier environment.
(via Bangkok Post) At this year's event, their discussions were focused on the theme "Sustainable Energy Systems: Challenges and Opportunities".
he Eco-Minds programme was initiated in 2003 by the Germany-based chemical giant Bayer in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Hans-Dieter Hausner, chairman and managing director at Bayer Australia and New Zealand, said generating energy in a sustainable way is critical, given climate change and the world's increasing population.
"Students will return to their home countries as ambassadors for climate change and sustainability. They will help educate other people about what they've learned from here," he said.
Students participating in the five-day forum came from China, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, India, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand. They included undergraduates and postgraduates in fields such as engineering, management, accountancy and social science.
Group work sessions were carried out with close monitoring from energy and environment experts. Students also visited New Zealand's power stations.
On the forum's last day each group gave its final presentation and Sitta Marattanachai, a fourth-year environmental engineering student at Chulalongkorn University, was delighted when her team won.
Ms Sitta said her team suggested that each country learn about and identify its energy problems and that it is important to promote collaboration and flexible movement of skills and information within the region.
"For example, Thailand lacks education and awareness on sustainable energy while many parts of Indonesia still have no access to electricity," she said. "Collaboration is therefore vital as countries with technology strength such as New Zealand could help by sharing their information and knowledge in renewable technologies with less developed ones."
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