Conservation and science, abroad!
Athabasca University (AU) just capped off a busy two weeks at the 2019 ICCROM Summer School in Arita, Japan. The course, International Summer School in Communication and Teaching Skills in Conservation and Science, was presented in partnership with ICCROM and Saga University.
International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) is an intergovernmental organization working to promote the conservation of all forms of cultural heritage in every region of the world. Athabasca University has partnered with ICCROM since 2015. ICCROM’s summer school began in 2013 and occurs every two years. The course was held in Arita, Japan, the first time being offered outside of Rome, Italy.
The two-week course brings conservation professionals together from around the world. With a diverse range of backgrounds, the course enables participants to look at alternative approaches to teaching and learning about conservation and science, while studying existing field practices.
The summer school encouraged participants to think outside of the box. They were inspired to explore, create, and innovate effective ways of learning and teaching core concepts of conservation and science. Over the two weeks, the participants of the summer school enjoyed highly interactive sessions at Saga University – Arita campus and the surrounding areas of Arita.
In one of the sessions, AU Elder in Residence Maria Campbell spoke with the participants via Skype. She shared her knowledge on Indigenous peoples of Canada, Traditional Indigenous Knowledge, and heritage conservation.
“It was a pleasure teaching along with an international, interdisciplinary team and working with participants from 16 countries from different corners of the world. We spent two busy weeks in the small beautiful town of Arita (Saga, Japan) where we all felt welcomed”, said Dr. Shabnam Inanloo Dailoo, AU associate professor.
She was part of the ICCROM summer school teaching team. When speaking of her experience, she noted, “Athabasca University provided the opportunity to the participants and teaching team to go digital and integrate online learning into face-to-face training.”
By the end, participants were able to enjoy Japan’s rich culture, exchange knowledge and experiences, and learn more about conservation and science.
2019 ICCROM summer school participants
