October 10 2026 (Sta), 13:30 ~ 15:00
Contributed Session1:

Can Citizen eDNA Monitoring Become a Social Infrastructure?

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Organizer:
Manami KAKITA (Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc.)
Yuta HASEBE (Kanagawa Environmental Research Center)
Shusei SATO (Tohoku University)
Michio KONDOH (Tohoku University)

　Advances in environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies are enabling biodiversity monitoring to move beyond the research community, allowing citizens, local governments, businesses, and other stakeholders to participate in biodiversity observation. This session introduces a range of emerging initiatives, including terrestrial eDNA monitoring using the Koro-rin mobility platform, municipality-led citizen biodiversity monitoring programs, and citizen science projects focusing on soil microbial diversity. Building on these case studies, the session will discuss common challenges, including standardized sampling methods, metadata management, data quality assurance, participant feedback, and sustainable operational frameworks. Through these discussions, participants will explore the design principles and future vision required to transform citizen-based eDNA monitoring into a sustainable social infrastructure for biodiversity observation.

◎Title and Presenter

• Lecture 1 “Toward the Social Implementation of the Koro-rin Method”
  Manami KAKITA (Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc.)
  
  
• Lecture 2 “A New Trend in Citizen Science – Learning About and Reflecting on the Nature Around Us Through eDNA –“
  Yuta HAEBE (Kanagawa Environmental Research Center)
  
  
• ILecture 3 “Exploring Earth-Cooling Microbes with Citizens: Toward Large-Scale Soil Microbial Monitoring”
  Satoshi OHKUBO, Hirimi KATO, Yuichi AOKI (Tohoku University)
  
  
• Panel Discussion Moderated by Michio KONDOH (Tohoku University)
  
  

October 11 2026 (Sun), 11:00 ~ 12:30
Contributed Session2:

Environmental DNA in Practice: Frontiers of Real-World Implementation

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Organizer:
Keiko MURAOKA, Yuki TARUMA, Hajime ITO (Public Works Research Institute (PWRI))
Nobutaka MAKI, Toshikazu TATEMATSU (Pacific Consultants Co., Ltd.)
Seiji SAWAKI, Hirokazu HORI, Maki OSUGA, Yuki TSUKAKOSHI (CTI Engineering Co., Ltd.)

　Environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies are rapidly expanding beyond research into practical applications across rivers, lakes, coastal and marine environments, and terrestrial ecosystems. Their adoption in national environmental monitoring programs, including the National Census on River Environments in Japan, demonstrates the growing role of eDNA in public policy, biodiversity conservation, and environmental management. In addition to biodiversity monitoring and rare species detection, eDNA technologies are being applied to marine environmental assessment, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and on-site analytical systems. This session brings together leading public research institutes to present the latest developments and practical challenges in implementing eDNA technologies in the field. Through presentations and a panel discussion, participants will explore opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and discuss future directions for establishing eDNA as a nature technology supporting environmental monitoring and biodiversity conservation. 

◎Title and Presenter

• Host
  Nobutaka MAKI (Pacific Consultants Co., Ltd.)
  
  
• Lecture 1 “Environmental DNA Analysis for Advancing Environmental Research”
  Natsuko KONDO (National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES))
  
  
• Lecture 2 “Biodiversity monitoring in rice paddy fields”
  Satoshi YAMAMOTO (National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO))
  
  
• Lecture 3 “Current Research and Practical Applications in the Port Sector”
  Shinya HOSOKAWA (Marine Environmental Information Group, Port and Airport Research Institute (PARI))
  
  
• Lecture 4 “Estimate the carbon dioxide sequestration processes of seagrass and macroalgal beds”
  Masakazu HORI (Fisheries Resources Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA))
  
  
• Lecture 5 “Automation of Sample Collection Using an eDNA Sampler”
  Tatsuhiro FUKUBA (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC))
  
  
• General Discussion
   Keiko Muraok (PWRI)

Chairperson	Toshifumi MINAMOTO (Kobe University)
Commentators	Shigenari MIYAWAKI (KenKan Consultants Co., Ltd.) Hitomi S. KIKKAWA (National Research Institute of Police Science) Tetsuo YASUTAKA (Integrated Research Center for Nature Positive Technology, AIST) Mai TSURUTA (PWRI) Natsuko KONDO (NIES) Satoshi YAMAMOTO (NARO) Shinya HOSOKAWA (PARI) Masakazu HORI (FRA) Tatsuhiro FUKUBA (JAMSTEC)