On September 24, 2016, the United Graduate School of Agricultural Science (UGSAS: composing universities: Gifu University and Shizuoka University) held an open seminar titled, "Environment Seminar: Microorganism and Environment" at the Gifu University Satellite Campus situated in front of JR Gifu Station.

This seminar was held to raise people's awareness about the roles of microorganism in relation to the environment. Each speaker made a presentation about microorganism from the perspectives of the environment surrounding soil and plants, purification of environmental pollutant, application of unused biomass, intestinal environment and microorganism-powered fuel batteries. The seminar also offered people an opportunity to know about various UGSAS research activities.

At the beginning of the seminar, Dr. Masateru Senge, Dean of UGSAS gave an opening speech, and Professor Kohei Nakano introduced five speakers to the audience.
The names of the speakers, universities and their presentation titles are as follows:
・Professor Naoto Ogawa, Shizuoka University, "Soil Environment and Microorganism"
・Professor Tohru Suzuki, Gifu University, "Another Environment Problem: Birth of Humans Seen from Intestinal Microorganism"
・Professor Kohei Nakano, Gifu University, "No Oxygen Needed, Microorganism Survivability: Methane Fermentation and Microorganism-Powered Fuel Batteries"
・Professor Shingo Kawai, Shizuoka University, "Environment Cleanup by Mushrooms"
・Professor Emeritus Kazuhiro Takamizawa, Gifu University, "Reality of Soil and Underground Water Cleanup by Microorganism"

The Question and Answer sessions followed after each speaker's presentation and the participants asked the speakers many questions such as, "Does lactic acid in yoghurt work differently by person?" "Are carbonic acid breathing and acetic acid breathing different?" "How much will it cost for underground water purification?"
A total of 85 people (64 citizens, 11 students and 10 university staff members) were all intently listening to the presentations.

The results of questionnaire about the seminar showed that many people are expecting the similar environment seminar next year, and expressing their strong wishes for attendance. A big turnout of the seminar represented people's strong interest in the environment today.