THE
TEAM
Scroll down to find out our team behind the projects and what do we do!
Dr. Thomas E. Jones
Tom is Professor of Environmental Studies at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu. His research interests range widely around Protected Area management, especially Wildlife & Nature-Based Tourism.
Originally from the UK, Tom came to Japan as an International Student. After completing his PhD at the University of Tokyo, he conducted visitor surveys on Mount Fuji and in the Japan Alps. Recent research projects have investigated Inbound Tourism at the Snow Monkeys and Takasakiyama Natural Zoo, one of Japan’s first and foremost monkey mountains.
Dr. Kubo Takahiro
Takahiro Kubo focuses on the economics and behaviour change concerning biodiversity conservation, and wildlife and tourism management. Takahiro obtained his BSc and MSc from Hokkaido University, Japan with Dr. Shoji (2010, 2012) and completed his PhD in Natural Resource Economics at Kyoto University, Japan in 2015, developed economic valuation approaches for wildlife and protected area management with Dr. Kuriyama. During his PhD, he was a visiting scholar at the Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology (REES), University of Alberta, Canada with Dr. Adamowicz (2013-2015).
Dr. Oscar A. Gomez
Dr. Gomez is Associate Professor of College of Asia Pacific Studies at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu. His current specialized field range widely from international relations, disasters to environmental policy. After completing his PhD in environmental studies at Tohoku University and prior on teaching at his current university. Dr. Gomez had a wealth experience working for various international organization namely as a consultant for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), FAO, UNDP as well as research fellow for Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Dr. Lindsay Mack
​Lindsay Mack is Associate Professor in the Center for Language Education at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu. After completing her doctoral degree from the Graduate School of Education specializing in TESOL from Exeter University, Dr. Mack has conducted various research mainly in the field of English linguistics and foreign language education. Her most recent research investigates the various challenges of introducing SDGs into an EFL curriculum.
Kelvianto Shenyoputro BSc
Kelvianto is a nature enthusiast who's currently pursuing his MSc in Sustainability Science at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan. Kelvianto obtained his BSc majoring in Environment and Development
under the supervision of Dr. Jones Thomas. His research interest aligned broadly on Japan's waste management, particularly in rural areas as well as waste management inside the protected areas in Japan. Prior obtaining his BSc, Kelvianto also had an experience working as a intern for the Japan's Ministry of the Environment (MoE).
Kelvianto is currently doing research on the waste management system inside Mount Fuji and its application towards the "Leave no Trace" policy.
About Wakaba2030
Welcome to our new site!!
Wakaba2030 aims to link up some of the existing environmental organizations past & present, working both in and around APU. The basic concept is a portal page that can allow new students to easily find out more about such organizations and try out some SDG activities for themselves...
Read on if you would like more information about beach clean-ups, swimming with sea turtles or turning compost into organic vegetables!!
​
For further inquiries:
