Bridging science and safety: MSU鈥揑IT physics graduates complete Sakura Science Exchange Program in Tokyo, Japan
Dec 22 2025
In a significant step for international scientific connection, a delegation from the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU–IIT) successfully completed the prestigious Sakura Science Exchange Program from December 7 to 13, 2025, hosted by Tokyo University of Science (TUS) in Kagurazaka Campus, Tokyo, under the supervision of Professor Masahiko Sato.
The exchange utilized the historic 1707 H艒ei eruption of Mt. Fuji as a case study for modern disaster preparedness. The exchange program was sponsored by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and is designed to foster rapid knowledge transfer and cultural understanding between Japan and promising young researchers from Asia.
The MSU–IIT team—comprised of MSc Physics students Karen E. Bustamante, Menriel A. Pacquiao, and Ma. Johanne G. Columnas, alongside faculty member Dr. Giovanni J. Paylaga, engaged in an intensive laboratory residency focused on geophysical hazards. This is realized with the organizing faculty member Prof. Rosario L. Reserva, with collaborator Prof. Kazuo Umemura of TUS, whose efforts facilitated the delegation's participation in this prestigious initiative. "This program goes beyond basic training; it immerses our students in Japan’s proactive culture of disaster resilience," noted Dr. Paylaga.
The centerpiece of the exchange was a geological field expedition to an outcrop near the base of Mt. Fuji. They went to the historic 1707 H艒ei eruption site, identifying distinct geological layers and collecting fragments of molten magma and rock samples. This fieldwork provided a hands-on foundation for the advanced analysis that followed.
Other key activities included magnetic profiling using specialized detectors in vacuum chambers with efficient magnetic shielding from external fields to measure the magnetic properties of volcanic rock, as well as magmatic analysis involving the chemical examination of molten fragments to reconstruct the eruption’s thermal history.
The program successfully highlighted the importance of international collaboration, allowing Filipino researchers to access global-standard facilities while fueling the drive to upgrade local capabilities for disaster science in the Philippines.
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