The Bartlem Lab
Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University
Kids agricultural camp in Furano: 04-06 August 2012

We organised a really fun scientific outreach event for school kids in cooperation with the Furano Board of Education. Furano is a major agricultural region in central Hokkaido, about 3hrs drive from Sapporo. The purpose was not only to raise interest in science in school kids but also to build stronger community links between our Faculty of Agriculture and local communities in important local country areas.

During the two-day camp, the school kids looked up information about their local agricultural industry and did some great hand-made presentations that they explained in English. Each group then designed their own special curry consisting of Furano vegetables and we had a big taste-test with International Students joining the groups and giving the kdis a great chance to interact with foreign cultures while realising scientists are normal people at the same time!

Utami (Indonesia) made a great curry together with Xi Li (China), Ikabongo (Zambia) and Kevin (Canada) that they fortunately tempered down a bit for the kids and was a huge hit. Making the curry was a lot of fun because we did it all on open camp fire (including the rice) and we definitely worked for it trying to keep the flames going in the rain!

Staff from Furano city were great and showed us some of the amazing Furano area (including cheese factory and winery!), we are definitely keen to go back there and encourage you to visit if you ever get the chance!