Conference at the Foot of Mount Fuji

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.