The master's students of the Department of Environmental and Engineering for Symbiosis, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Soka University, Mr. Ryota Daniel Kamiuchi and Mr. Andrew Tay Yu Yan received the “Excellent Presentation Award” (Encouragement Category) at the research presentation of the 21st Japan Carbonization Research Society (JCRS) (September 7th to 8th, 2023) held at Tokyo Tama-Mirai-Messe.

This society promotes research and development on the carbonization of biomass resources, such as wood, and aims for the effective use of such resources. Mr. Kamiuchi's research was titled “Improving resistance and resilience of an Ethiopian soil to hydrological stresses through biochar application” and he presented on the effect of reducing water stress in Ethiopian soil due to drought using biochar produced by pyrolyzing water hyacinth. Mr. Tay gave a presentation titled “Ammonium adsorption capacity of biochar-clay composites using water hyacinth as feedstock”, and addressed the recent issue of nitrogen loss from soil. He shared the results of the research to improve the adsorption performance of ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) of biochar for use as a soil conditioner through impregnation using clay, which is an abundant natural resource. Both studies were part of the SATREPS-EARTH project.

Ryota: The Japan Carbonization Research Society (JCRS) was the first academic conference I attended, and it was an honor to receive the award. My efforts were only possible thanks to those that have supported me along the way, especially my fellow students in the Laboratory of Environmental Soil Science and Professor Sato. The attention that biochar has garnered from researchers has been growing year by year due to its potential as a solution to various environmental issues. I believe that the JCRS and everyone involved in this type of research will be critical in solving the issues. I will continue to pursue my own research and make further efforts to be part of the solution.
Andrew: Firstly, I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to my advisor, Professor Shinjiro Sato, for giving me all the advice and guidance in my research, as well as to my lab mates for their love and support. I would also like to express my gratitude to the judge panel of the JCRS for acknowledging my research. In conjunction with what I have learnt and newly discovered at this conference, I will continue my efforts in my current research, as well as contributing to the actualization of a decarbonized society.