Usually an international conference was held in a big city.
But this time the conference International Association for the Study of the
Commons (IASC) 2013 was held in a small town at the foot of Mount Fuji. The
Japanese call it Fujisan, which in Indonesia is better known as Fujiyama. The
IASC is an organization established Elinor Ostrom, Nobel Laureate of Economics,
in 2010 died in 2012. IASC issues related to socio-economic and
political-cultural to the management and use of natural resources. Hundreds of
scientists all over the country come to present its findings.
With a two-hour journey by bus from Shinjuku-Tokyo, came in
Fujiyoshida, a small town with a panoramic view of Mount Fuji. Local transport
is very rare, so it must have to go everywhere on foot or taxi. Taxis are very
expensive in Japan, nearly three times the taxi fare Indonesia. Transportation
costs forced swollen for a week have to commute by taxi. Although the committee
provides bus, many people often miss the bus because the bus drivers are very
disciplined about time, while the participants are still engrossed in
discussion and networking.
There are a few small notes about the conference in this
Fujisan. First, it is interesting conference in Fujisan because the air is
clean and the atmosphere is very quiet, sandwiched between two beautiful lakes,
Fuji and Yamanaka, fuji mountain panorama accompanied by a bit of snow on top
makes a very peaceful atmosphere. It's ringing a song Furusato describes
hometown atmosphere in Japan. Another side of Japan that "rustic" is
more visible. Despite the very small town but truly extraordinary
infrastructure: roads, hotels, restaurants, and department stores. It seems
that it is a standard infrastructure.
Second, only this time I attended a conference in Japan that
provides lunch, although only udon or sandwich. Though Japan is unusual provide
lunch for participants of seminars or conferences. In 2008, there 5thWorld
Fisheries Congress in Yokohama, and participants from Europe and America was
shocked because it had to pay about 40 thousand yen ($ 4 million) but lunch is
not provided. Participants must find their own meal to the restaurant.
Participants who can not speak Japanese really hassles.
Moreover, mere national or local seminar. Tradition does not
provide lunch this may need to be replicated. Because generally if you hold a
seminar, the most troublesome thing is a matter of consumption. We are always
busy with the affairs of this meal. Turns Hong Kong is also the same. Currently
I'm in Hong Kong for the Asian Summit on Higher Education. Turned out to lunch
not provided. Had to to the canteen or restaurant that is enough to make the
body sweat.
Third, the academics, the conference is not only the event
to share knowledge or research, but also to network up. Of course I am very
happy because some Westerners send an email to me long before the conference to
just ask when met on the sidelines of the conference. It is the fruit of the
results to write the book Managing Coastal and Inland Waters (Springer, 2010)
and several articles in international journals. The book that I edited together
top scientists Kenneth ruddle turned out pretty much read other scientists in
the world. The book is also the result of the informal meeting on the sidelines
ruddle IIFET conference (International Institute of Fisheries Economics and
Trade) in 2009 in Vietnam.
At the time in Japan was also the publisher of the
Netherlands also came to offer for publishing my works. Though I still feel my
work is mediocre. So, the conference is almost always carry a hefty byproduct.
That's why academics should diligently follow the conference so that we can
feel that sometimes the byproduct can be larger than that.
