UI President Scott Green attended the annual Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony last Tuesday, August 6th. The event was held to observe the dropping of an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima by the United States in 1945, as well as pay respects to victims of the incident and bereaved family members.
“Understanding and learning from history is vital to higher education,” Green said. “I am honored that President Mitsuo Ochi invited me to this peace event and look forward to continued collaboration with him and the University of Hiroshima.”
Additionally, President Green attended the University Presidents for Peace Conference, an event held by Hiroshima University. These two congregations are part of UI’s delegation trip to Japan to deliberate possible student and curricular exchanges.
Exchange programs between the two schools would likely center on high-demand careers such as computer science and engineering. Regarding the need for growth and increased educational opportunities, Green said, “Collaboration is the best way to meet the challenges ahead.”
These visits follow a long-standing relationship between the University of Idaho, Hiroshima University, and the city of Hiroshima. Last Spring, UI presented an honorary doctorate in humane letters to Keiko Ogura, an author and activist who survived the atomic bombing. Her work has ensured that knowledge of the bombings is spread and victims’ stories are kept alive.
Earlier this summer, Hiroshima University President Mitsuo Ochi visited Idaho to tour UI’s land grant efforts, including Moscow’s main campus, the UI Boise Center, and the McCall Field Campus. These correspondents prove promising for further relations between Hiroshima University and UI.