GLOMOS participated in the 2nd International University Collaboration Symposium on UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks, held on 3 March 2026 at Kanazawa University’s Kakuma Campus, Japan. The symposium brought together approximately 60 participants, including representatives from universities, local governments, and organizations working with UNESCO-designated sites in Japan and internationally, both in person and online.
GLOMOS was represented by Dr. Paola Fontanella Pisa, who was invited as an international expert to contribute to discussions on education, research collaboration, and community engagement in Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks.
Strengthening international academic collaboration
The symposium opened with welcome remarks and a keynote address by Hans Thulstrup from UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, highlighting the role of universities in advancing knowledge exchange, capacity building, and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) within UNESCO-designated sites.
This was followed by a presentation from Associate Professor Aida Mammadova, UNESCO Chair holder at Kanazawa University’s International Center for Japan Studies and Education, who introduced the university’s ongoing initiatives and partnerships related to Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks. Researchers and practitioners from Türkiye, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States also shared experiences and perspectives on international research collaboration, field-based education, and student exchange programs linked to UNESCO sites.
GLOMOS contribution: heritage, disaster risk, and youth engagement
Dr. Fontanella Pisa delivered a presentation entitled “From the past to the future: transgenerational knowledge transmission for community resilience in Tadami Biosphere Reserve”. Drawing on her research in Tadami Biosphere Reserve, Japan, she explored the connections between cultural heritage and disaster risk, with particular attention to transgenerational knowledge transmission and youth engagement in strengthening community resilience. Her contribution highlighted how local knowledge systems and intergenerational learning can inform risk reduction strategies in mountain and rural contexts.
Towards a collaborative network for student mobility
Beyond formal presentations, the symposium created space for in-depth discussions on the future of university-led collaboration across UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks. A key outcome was the generation of shared ideas to support student mobility and exchange programs, with the aim of making it easier for students to travel between and learn from different biosphere and geopark regions worldwide. This aligns closely with GLOMOS’ commitment to promoting place-based learning, youth engagement, and transdisciplinary research in mountain social-ecological systems.
Overall, the symposium represented an important step toward developing a university-driven international framework for education and research cooperation in UNESCO-designated areas, reinforcing the role of higher education institutions in supporting sustainable development, resilience, and knowledge exchange at local and global scales.
Further information • https://unescochair.w3.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/news/news-2295/ • https://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/news/180548/
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