Investigating post-disaster public perceptions of energy security and nuclear energy in Ukraine
Monica Nagashima
Faculty of Environment and Information Studies
From: Japan and Ukraine
Theme of Research or Project: Addressing Energy Security in Ukraine
Focusing on energy security in Ukraine
Valuable Experiences: Global Environmental Issues leadership program and internship
One highlight of the program was the opportunity to attend a five-week Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Student Leaders on Global Environmental Issues leadership program held in the US, where I was truly inspired by my fellow students, strengthening my belief that this was the field I wanted to pursue. Also the passion of other students in my research group for their own subject was a great inspiration for me.
In the future I hope to build on this experience to go on to work as a policy maker in an international organization like the UN, the World Bank, or the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, working on energy security and environmental issues. I also completed a short internship at a renewable energy company in Iwate, which further convinced me that sustainability and energy are the paths I wish to follow.

How I arrived at my project theme
In the first year I undertook research on depression from a biological perspective, as part of a collaborative project with the School of Medicine at Keio University. However, after taking ‘Local Development in Asia’ I came to realize the importance of community engagement and thorough consideration of possible outcomes for sustainable development. I then joined a seminar on international development, where through the study of behavioral economic theories I learned about people’s decision making processes, and the process of community engagement in environmental and energy policy decisions.
Note: Titles, affiliations, student years, etc. indicated for individuals are accurate at the time of January 2015.