2016 activity report on a regional contribution program conducted by Nagoya University : 'Investigation of past solar activity and the paleoclimate from tree annual rings and varved lake sediments' for elementary and junior high school students

We, the members of the Division for Chronological Research at the Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research at Nagoya University, held a regional contribution program for elementary and junior high school students on August 4–5, 2016: “Investigation of past solar activity and the paeloclimate change from tree annual rings and varved lake sediments.” Thirty-five students and six of their parents observed natural samples to experience earth and archaeological sciences. The first day began with a lecture on how tree annual rings and varved lake sediments can be used to reveal the paleoclimate. After the lecture, the students took part in several hands-on experiments on sedimentology. On the second day they travelled to the Wakasa area by bus and visited the Wakasa-Mikata Jomon Museum to learn about the pre-historic Jomon lifestyle and culture by observing remains from the Jomon Period excavated from the Torihama shell mound. Later in the day they took a cruising observation expedition across Suigetsu Lake, Mikatagoko to observe unique varved sediment layers on a lakebed revealing paleoclimate change dating back 70,000 years. Finally, they observed genuine sediment cores at the Fukui Prefectural Satoyama-Satoumi Research Institute. The program ended a success. The post-program questionnaire shows that the participants enjoyed the program and learned many new things.
年代測定研究部においては、平成28年度総長裁量経費地域貢献事業として、平成28年8月4日（木）と5日（金）の2日間に亘り、小学5年生から中学3年生まで35名を対象とした体験学習「樹木年輪・年縞堆積物から過去の太陽活動、地球の古気候を探る」を実施した。初日は名古屋大学で講義・実習を、2日目はバスで福井県若狭三方五湖に出向き、若狭三方縄文博物館の見学、水月湖の野外調査、ならびに福井県里山里海湖研究所において年縞堆積物の見学を行った。全体的に内容を詰めすぎた感はあるが、参加者は楽しみながら体験学習には取り組んでいた。アンケート結果が示すように、本事業の目的である“小・中学生に自然科学・地球科学・文化財科学等の面白さを伝える”ことは十分に果たされ、地域社会へ貢献できたと考えられる。