145 / 192
[
] 145
innovation in collaboration, by continuing to build capacity
for developing countries. A professional network of fellows
can serve as a platform for curriculum building and teacher
training programmes, together with research capacity-building
in countries with such needs.
4. Go beyond scientists and engineers. The science and technology
community alone cannot solve the global problems. Scientists
and engineers can monitor and help predict the future, but for
identifying feasible solutions, networking needs look further.
Ensuring a sustainable future
Tokyo Institute of Technology as a university of science and tech-
nology has a unique strength in providing a full range of research
fields that cater to the needs of developing countries and promote
sustainable development of these nations through scientific research
and development. This meaningful research-oriented programme
has flourished since the 1960s as a network of alumni covering 60
countries. ATTUNE plans to function as a platform for professionals
to gather and discuss the most pressing issues that need to be tackled
to ensure a sustainable world.
Tokyo Tech-UNESCO fellows’ activities illustrate the great
diversity of roles in which they have been engaged since their
residence at Tokyo Tech. They demonstrate their involvement in
fields from basic scientific research to higher education, in careers
from diplomacy to medicine, and in ventures from environmen-
tal volunteering to cultural ambassadorship. The breadth and
depth of knowledge and experience fostered during the course
and in the following years are evident in its rich history. There
is an unlimited number of opportunities for global networking
among those contributing directly and indirectly to science for
sustainable development. The aim of the university is to foster
a better future through science and technology. The
fellowship has certainly laid another foundation for
that very goal.
Global network of Tokyo Tech – UNESCO fellows (1965-2007)
Image: Tokyo Institute of Technology
UNESCO fellow contributing to
sustainable development
Dr. Zukhra Kadirova (2004-2005. Specialization:
Inorganic materials)
Dr. Zukhra Kadirova is Associate Professor of the
Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the
Academy of Sciences in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
She participated in the water resource management
and environment course in 2004. She described this
programme as having an “interdisciplinary character
of modern researchs”. The research training course
specifically provided an opportunity to tackle actual
problems and come up with feasible solutions, as
well as expanding knowledge in water resource
management and the environment in Japan. Skills
in advanced methods of research using modern
equipment facilities and chemical computer software
helped her to continue her research and development
in her home country. Currently, she is working to
improve the simultaneous removal of harmful inorganic
and organic ions from water and to find original ways of
utilizing waste. She also develops preparation methods
of new sorbents for water treatment on the base of
adsorption and photocatalysis using UV and solar lights.
She publishes her research and development outcomes
in the Journal of Hazardous Materials and collaborates
with Tokyo Institute of Technology.