ANN32001 Special Lecture on Environmental Sciences

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences

Lecture Code ANN32001 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 環境科学特論

Subject Name
（Katakana）カンキョウカガクトクロン

Subject Name in
English Special Lecture on Environmental Sciences

Instructor NAKAYA SHINJI

Instructor
(Katakana) ナカヤ　シンジ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 3rd-Year, First Semester, Intensive

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (Int) Inte：IAS J306

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 　 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 3 : Undergraduate High-Intermediate

Course Area（Area） 25 : Science and Technology

Course Area（Discipline） 03 : Natural Environment

Eligible Students

Keywords Groundwater resources, field science, environmental water, water cycle, naturally occurring contaminants, tracers, microbial activity, watershed governance

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students) Integrated Arts and Sciences
（Knowledge and Understanding）
・Knowledge and understanding of the importance and characteristics of each discipline and basic theoretical framework.
（Abilities and Skills）
・The ability and skills to collect and analyze necessary literature or data among various sources of information on individual academic disciplines.
・The ability and skills to specify necessary theories and methods for consideration of issues.

Class Objectives
/Class Outline Course objectives: Through field surveys and research grounded in hydrogeology, students will learn about the water cycle and associated water-rock interactions, material transport from sources to sinks, and environmental change factors. They will gain an understanding of the importance of designing future water environment systems from a broad perspective concerning the coexistence of water and human life. Furthermore, they will deepen their understanding of watershed governance for ensuring a sound water cycle.
Course overview: Learn the fundamentals of the three types of hydrogeological structures and their characteristics, such as rainwater infiltration into the subsurface, groundwater flow and vulnerability, water balance, water demand/supply, water stress, and tracers and physical/chemical approaches for groundwater visualization. Acquire the fundamentals and applications of hydrogeological investigation and research using field science methods through case studies of physical and geochemical groundwater surveys for watershed governance conducted in the Yatsugatake and Northern Alps watersheds of Nagano Prefecture, as well as field investigations into groundwater contamination by naturally occurring arsenic and fluoride in Asia and Africa, contamination mechanisms, and microbial activity in environmental water.

Class Schedule 1: Arsenic Contamination of Drinking Groundwater
2: Groundwater Arsenic Contamination Survey in Bangladesh
3: Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in Bangladesh and People's Livelihoods
4: Groundwater Visualization Techniques
5: Groundwater Tracers
6: Application of Groundwater Tracers
7: Groundwater Storage Survey and Material Transport in Volcanic Regions
8: Near-Future Projections of Groundwater Resources in Volcanic Regions
9: Groundwater Survey in Non-Volcanic Regions
10: Water Cycle Mechanisms, Water Balance, and Water Stress in Non-Volcanic Regions
11: Investigation of Groundwater Fluoride Contamination in the Meru Volcanic Region, Tanzania
12: Investigation of Contamination in Drinking Water Wells in the Meru Volcanic Region/Populated Areas, Tanzania
13: Water Resources Quantity and Impact of Global Warming in the Meru Volcanic Region, Tanzania
14: Evaluation of Microbial Activity in Environmental Water
15: Microbial-Induced Changes in Groundwater Environment

During the intensive lecture period, submit 5–6 short reports (each A4, 1 page, handwritten) over 3 days. Writing time (approximately 10 minutes per report) will be provided during class. Additionally, submit a comprehensive report (A4, approximately 2–3 pages, handwritten) at the end of the intensive lecture period. Writing time (approximately 25 minutes) will be provided during class. Blank A4 paper will be distributed.

This intensive course is scheduled to be held from Monday, September 28, 2026, to Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Handouts will be provided at the classes.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Visual Materials, Other (see [More Details])

(More Details) MS Power Point will be used for the classes.

Learning techniques to be incorporated Quizzes/ Quiz format, Post-class Report

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review 1: Learn about arsenic contamination, one of the three major groundwater pollutants that are difficult to resolve.
2: Learn about groundwater arsenic contamination surveys in developing countries (rural Bangladesh).
3: Consider the challenges faced by people in Bangladeshi villages who drink arsenic-contaminated groundwater.
4: Learn scientific methods for visualizing groundwater, which cannot be seen directly unlike river water.
5: Learn what can be revealed by tracers used to visualize groundwater.
6: Learn about and consider evaluating the behavior of radioactive cesium dispersed in groundwater following a nuclear accident.
7: Learning groundwater storage surveys and material transport in water systems for groundwater governance in volcanic geological watersheds.
8: Learning and considering near-future groundwater resource prediction methods based on global climate change model output data.
9: Learning the formation mechanisms of groundwater resources in non-volcanic regions.
10: Learning and considering water resource vulnerability and water stress in non-volcanic regions.
11: Learning about and considering fluoride contamination, one of the three major difficult-to-solve groundwater pollutants.
12: Considering complex contamination of drinking well water occurring in the Meru volcanic region, which is blessed with water resources.
13: Considering the future of water resources in the Meru volcanic region/densely populated areas.
14: Considering fluctuations in environmental water adenosine triphosphate as an indicator of bacterial and archaeal activity.
15: Learning about and considering bacterial and archaeal proliferation and water quality changes underground associated with aquifer thermal energy storage system development.

Requirements

Grading Method Students will be evaluated on their ability to accurately and clearly express their understanding and thoughts regarding the course content through reports designed for third-party explanation. Guidelines for report writing will be explained in class.
・Short Report (4 key points considered important from the lecture content and personal reflections): 60 points maximum
・Comprehensive Report (Personal thoughts on issues and challenges identified during the lectures): 40 points maximum
Total evaluation: 100 points maximum.

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message What I always feel when dealing with groundwater pollution and groundwater resource surveys in developing countries is that the burden of water issues falls on the poor. Water issues are intractable problems intertwined with poverty, requiring innovative solutions.

Other class schedule:
　September 28th, period 1-10,
　September 29th, period 1-10，
　September 30th, period 1-10

Students scheduled to graduate in September 2026 are not eligible to enroll.

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences
Lecture Code	ANN32001	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	環境科学特論
Subject Name （Katakana）	カンキョウカガクトクロン
Subject Name in English	Special Lecture on Environmental Sciences
Instructor	NAKAYA SHINJI
Instructor (Katakana)	ナカヤ　シンジ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	3rd-Year, First Semester, Intensive
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(Int) Inte：IAS J306
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face

Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week		Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	3 : Undergraduate High-Intermediate
Course Area（Area）	25 : Science and Technology
Course Area（Discipline）	03 : Natural Environment
Eligible Students
Keywords	Groundwater resources, field science, environmental water, water cycle, naturally occurring contaminants, tracers, microbial activity, watershed governance
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)	Integrated Arts and Sciences （Knowledge and Understanding）・Knowledge and understanding of the importance and characteristics of each discipline and basic theoretical framework. （Abilities and Skills）・The ability and skills to collect and analyze necessary literature or data among various sources of information on individual academic disciplines. ・The ability and skills to specify necessary theories and methods for consideration of issues.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	Course objectives: Through field surveys and research grounded in hydrogeology, students will learn about the water cycle and associated water-rock interactions, material transport from sources to sinks, and environmental change factors. They will gain an understanding of the importance of designing future water environment systems from a broad perspective concerning the coexistence of water and human life. Furthermore, they will deepen their understanding of watershed governance for ensuring a sound water cycle. Course overview: Learn the fundamentals of the three types of hydrogeological structures and their characteristics, such as rainwater infiltration into the subsurface, groundwater flow and vulnerability, water balance, water demand/supply, water stress, and tracers and physical/chemical approaches for groundwater visualization. Acquire the fundamentals and applications of hydrogeological investigation and research using field science methods through case studies of physical and geochemical groundwater surveys for watershed governance conducted in the Yatsugatake and Northern Alps watersheds of Nagano Prefecture, as well as field investigations into groundwater contamination by naturally occurring arsenic and fluoride in Asia and Africa, contamination mechanisms, and microbial activity in environmental water.
Class Schedule	1: Arsenic Contamination of Drinking Groundwater 2: Groundwater Arsenic Contamination Survey in Bangladesh 3: Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in Bangladesh and People's Livelihoods 4: Groundwater Visualization Techniques 5: Groundwater Tracers 6: Application of Groundwater Tracers 7: Groundwater Storage Survey and Material Transport in Volcanic Regions 8: Near-Future Projections of Groundwater Resources in Volcanic Regions 9: Groundwater Survey in Non-Volcanic Regions 10: Water Cycle Mechanisms, Water Balance, and Water Stress in Non-Volcanic Regions 11: Investigation of Groundwater Fluoride Contamination in the Meru Volcanic Region, Tanzania 12: Investigation of Contamination in Drinking Water Wells in the Meru Volcanic Region/Populated Areas, Tanzania 13: Water Resources Quantity and Impact of Global Warming in the Meru Volcanic Region, Tanzania 14: Evaluation of Microbial Activity in Environmental Water 15: Microbial-Induced Changes in Groundwater Environment During the intensive lecture period, submit 5–6 short reports (each A4, 1 page, handwritten) over 3 days. Writing time (approximately 10 minutes per report) will be provided during class. Additionally, submit a comprehensive report (A4, approximately 2–3 pages, handwritten) at the end of the intensive lecture period. Writing time (approximately 25 minutes) will be provided during class. Blank A4 paper will be distributed. This intensive course is scheduled to be held from Monday, September 28, 2026, to Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Handouts will be provided at the classes.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Visual Materials, Other (see [More Details])
(More Details)	MS Power Point will be used for the classes.
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Quizzes/ Quiz format, Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	1: Learn about arsenic contamination, one of the three major groundwater pollutants that are difficult to resolve. 2: Learn about groundwater arsenic contamination surveys in developing countries (rural Bangladesh). 3: Consider the challenges faced by people in Bangladeshi villages who drink arsenic-contaminated groundwater. 4: Learn scientific methods for visualizing groundwater, which cannot be seen directly unlike river water. 5: Learn what can be revealed by tracers used to visualize groundwater. 6: Learn about and consider evaluating the behavior of radioactive cesium dispersed in groundwater following a nuclear accident. 7: Learning groundwater storage surveys and material transport in water systems for groundwater governance in volcanic geological watersheds. 8: Learning and considering near-future groundwater resource prediction methods based on global climate change model output data. 9: Learning the formation mechanisms of groundwater resources in non-volcanic regions. 10: Learning and considering water resource vulnerability and water stress in non-volcanic regions. 11: Learning about and considering fluoride contamination, one of the three major difficult-to-solve groundwater pollutants. 12: Considering complex contamination of drinking well water occurring in the Meru volcanic region, which is blessed with water resources. 13: Considering the future of water resources in the Meru volcanic region/densely populated areas. 14: Considering fluctuations in environmental water adenosine triphosphate as an indicator of bacterial and archaeal activity. 15: Learning about and considering bacterial and archaeal proliferation and water quality changes underground associated with aquifer thermal energy storage system development.
Requirements
Grading Method	Students will be evaluated on their ability to accurately and clearly express their understanding and thoughts regarding the course content through reports designed for third-party explanation. Guidelines for report writing will be explained in class. ・Short Report (4 key points considered important from the lecture content and personal reflections): 60 points maximum ・Comprehensive Report (Personal thoughts on issues and challenges identified during the lectures): 40 points maximum Total evaluation: 100 points maximum.
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	What I always feel when dealing with groundwater pollution and groundwater resource surveys in developing countries is that the burden of water issues falls on the poor. Water issues are intractable problems intertwined with poverty, requiring innovative solutions.
Other	class schedule: 　September 28th, period 1-10, 　September 29th, period 1-10，　September 30th, period 1-10 Students scheduled to graduate in September 2026 are not eligible to enroll.
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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