Japan Quake Changes Professor's Plans

Abstract

Dana M. Barry won't be walking up to the podium on Friday to receive her doctoral degree in engineering. Instead, she'll be receiving it by air mail from Japan. Exactly a week before the March 111 earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, Mrs. Barry received word that her Ph.D thesis had been approved by the chemistry department at Osaka University in Osaka, Japan. She had hoped to travel there this week to attend her graduation ceremony, but decided against making flight plans after the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck Japan. "They're in a disaster situation right now and I would be putting myself at risk," Mrs. Barry said. "They also feel responsible for U.S. visitors and they have enough to worry about right now." Although Osaka avoided damage, she noted that flying into Tokyo is risky because the city has experienced rolling energy blackouts since the earthquake. Over the past decade, Mrs. Barry has traveled to Japan five times as a visiting professor and distinguished speaker. She is employed by Clarkson University as a senior technical writer and editor for university's Center for Advanced Materials Processing. Her connection with Japan dates back to 2002 when a Japanese science educator, Hideyuki Kanematsu, wanted to learn mover about the creative methods she had developed to teach science lessons to young children as well a college students. They met during an on-line chemistry conference. "The Japanese are kind of rigid when it comes to creativity," Mrs. Barry said. "He was interested in a paper I had written about conservation of energy and environmental risks. He liked the creativity. We decided we would collaborate." Since then, the two have co-authored two problem-solving science books designed to teach science in a fun, creative way for students. The two paperback books are written in both Japanese and English. "They have been used by thousands of students in Japan, "Mrs. Barry said, noting that she has taught Japanese students science lessons during her visits there. To win approval, her doctoral thesis had to be approved by all 50 engineering professors at Osaka University's Graduate School of Engineering, she said. "They vote by paper ballot. You have to have 100 percent approval. If one person did not approve my paper I would not be awarded the Ph.D., " Mrs. Barry said. She also holds master's degrees in education and chemistry, as well as a doctorate in education and an honorary doctorate in science education. Over the years, Mrs. Barry has developed a greater understanding of the Japanese culture and formed lasting friendships. Following the disaster, she reached many of her Japanese counterparts by e-mail and learned they were all safe. "A number of people are still missing. I keep praying for Japan and its people," Mrs. Barry said. She has also traveled to Malaysia three time several times as visiting professor. A week after her visit in December 2004 a devastating tsunami struck Penang, the region where she was staying. "Many of the places I stayed and visited were damaged or destroyed. That was a close call," Mrs. Barry said.