Recently I participated in the 7th International Symposium of the Association of Japan and Indonesia Veterinary Education (AJIVE). This symposium is held annually, and this year, the 7th AJIVE was held on February 11th, 2023, hosted by the Program of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar-Indonesia. April last year was the beginning of my third year of PhD studies and I registered for some elective courses to fulfill and complete the requirements on my PhD course. One of the courses I registered for was the "Joint Workshop Practice", a course that requires the student to participate in an international scientific meeting and gain the ability to collect information from global perspectives, communication skills, while socializing with overseas universities and researchers through oral and poster presentations. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I was not able to go abroad for any International scientific forum. Until last December, the 7th AJIVE Organizing Committee announced its offline or "in person" symposium. I talked to my supervisor that I need the credits from participating this meeting (as there were no any other chances in the remaining period, until this March-the deadline), and he allowed me to participate. So happy because I went to Makassar-Indonesia with the Dean of our school and my fellows, two other PhD students from my batch.
The symposium was held with a plenary and parallel seminar sessions for oral presentation. On our first day in Makassar, February 10th 2023, after taking some rest, we participated in the welcome dinner on the Pinisi ship operated by Pinisi Pusaka Indonesia, a wooden-craft ship traditionally made by local people. It was a great experience for me and for most of the participants, especially my colleagues from Tottori University as they enjoyed the sunset sailing, as well as the "Maumere" dance on the ship. This might be an unforgettable moment for us. Thanks to all members of the Organizing Committee from Hasanuddin University for that. On February 11th, we participated in a plenary session with two speakers: Dr. Takashi Shimizu from Yamaguchi University-Japan, who talked about Francisella tularensis and Tularemia; and Dr. Channarong Rodkhum from Chulalongkorn University-Thailand, who attended virtually and talked about vaccination in fish.
In this scientific meeting, I submitted my research abstract in the glycoscience area. I attended the first parallel session (13:00-14:30) of the Animal Diseases and Veterinary Public Health, as my presentation time will be in the second session (14:30-16:00). In the second parallel session in the same room, in the Basic Veterinary Science group, I was given about seven minutes oral presentation. After my presentation, I got a question regarding my research and a follow-up discussion from another participant. During the first and second sessions, other than my presentation time, I attended various presentations that broadened my perspective and knowledge about veterinary sciences. I had some follow-up discussions with some presenters from several universities, both Indonesia and Japan, during the coffee break or dinner time. On February 12th, we had a short excursion to the Fort Rotterdam (a historical site in Makassar City that was built during the Dutch/Netherlands occupation period), before left Makassar-Indonesia for Japan. In general, we had a lot of fruitful information and knowledge from this trip, and of course a lot of delicious foods. Coto Makassar, Palubasa, Pisang Epe and Saraba at Pantai Losari, Otak-otak, sanggara balanda, and many others.
I am grateful that I met new people during our activities in Makassar. Again, thanks to all members of the Organizing Committee. Last but not least, I thank our school, the Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Tottori University, for facilitating our trip, and to the staff for their kind assistance prior to our departure to Indonesia. To our Dean and my fellows from Tottori, お疲れさまでした!