A former JCMU student, Elly Bunzendahl from Michigan Technological University, served as a model for the ESJ Internship. She had an interest in remote sensing and continued her work on a project for the Michigan Space Grand Consortium in cooperation with the University of Shiga Prefecture. Here are her reflections:
"[This experience] provided me with many opportunities to observe and participate in research in my area of study as well as in a foreign setting. The work I completed with a small team of professors and researchers in Japan not only increased my awareness of field work applications, but also forged a relationship among American students and the University of Shiga Prefecture. Niren-sensei and Mori-san were very open and allowed me to join in on their project. They included me in everything - including the computer work, going to the actual field site a couple of times, and visiting the Biwako Museum to obtain aerial photos. Niren-sensei was also very patient with my Japanese and answered my many, many questions I asked concerning Japanese environmental issues."