From United States of America
- Name
MYERS Corey Adam - Country/ Region of Citizenship
United States of America - Graduated from
The Georgia Institute of Technology - Department
Department of Modern Mechanical Engineering （Master’s）
Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Honor
How did you find out about and decide on Waseda University?
This is actually my second time to be at Waseda. I came here when I was an undergraduate student as part of the SILS program because my university had an exchange program with Waseda. I had studied for a summer semester at Fukuoka Daigaku and Tokyo Institute of Technology. My home university is a very technical university and I wanted to do something besides math and engineering, so I chose Waseda for the SILS program.
After I graduated, I worked for a while, and then I decided I needed to do something to help fight climate change. So I started looking for a laboratory in the United States, Europe, and Japan. It is just a coincidence that the laboratory I really wanted to join, the Nakagaki laboratory, was at Waseda.
The Nakagaki laboratory is kind of unique in my opinion because the professor who is leading the laboratory has strong connections and experiences with business. The purpose of the laboratory is to try to curb global warming by capturing CO2 emitted by power plants and steel making companies. Most laboratories around the world studying climate change are working from a purely scientific perspective, which is important because sometimes you make discoveries and insights that you were not expecting; but in this case, we do not have time and we already know exactly what the problem is, so we need to work with the companies who create the CO2 to find a way to stop global warming while protecting their business interests. When I saw the research being done and the connections that the Nakagaki lab has, I knew it was a special laboratory where you can create a technology, and have it put into use very quickly.
Did you have any concerns before coming to Japan?
My hometown is very culturally diverse, and I grew up with a lot of different types of people. Even though I lived in Japan for a year before, I was worried that I was going to miss the diversity I enjoy in Atlanta. When I talk to someone, my personality changes to based on the personality of the person I am talking to. So, if I am always talking to Japanese people – even though each person is unique -, I am always talking to people with generally the same culture. I was concerned that I was going to miss the kind of conversations I have with black people or Hispanic people. Despite my apprehension, I have already met many people who have a strong interest in different parts of American culture. For example, one of my friends here really likes country music; when I talk to him, I feel like I am talking to a “country” person in America. So, even though I dislike country music and culture, I feel like I’m talking to someone in the States and I feel a little less homesick.
Did you have any difficulties when you started a new life here?
Of course, there were the normal issues that anyone has when moving to a new city. Most notably, you have to start making a new base of friends. If I want to talk about my love life, what friend do I talk to? Oh, I don’t have that friend yet. If I want to go out to the movies, what friend do I call? Oh, I don’t have that friend yet. But now I am slowly building my friend network.
How is your life in Japan and at Waseda?
In America, I quit my job which was a very good job. I sold my house I bought and left all my friends and all my family to come here. It was kind of like a big emotional and financial risk. As such, I was worried about whether or not I could do the research I wanted to do. I gave up all these things hoping that I will get to do the research I want and not knowing if there be support for me (be it technical, emotional, etc.). But the people in my laboratory immediately treated me like family and took care of me. Of course they take me out and have fun but they also support me in my daily life. For example, if I don’t understand something like setting up an apartment contract, they always help me. Even though they are all younger than me, it feels as though they are protecting me. It is really special to feel so welcomed immediately, and I am convinced I made the right decision.
Our professor is very demanding and leads by example. He pushes himself very hard and expects the same from us. Since we see he is trying so hard, it motivates us to do the same. It is very normal to be here on the weekends, every night until 10, 11, or 12. Of course we don’t have to be here so late, but it is the good motivation from our professor that keeps us working hard.
What do you do for fun in your spare time?
I like Martial Arts (Sogo-Kakutogi) and Karaoke. I sing Japanese songs, like Ulfuls.
I do not have so much free time, but if I have free time, I should be doing research or practicing Sogo-Kakutogi. If I am not doing something, it feels wrong.
How are the relationships with your supervisor and lab members?
Everything is good. They are nice. They try hard.
I got really lucky. The people in my laboratory have a good example from our professor for how to work hard.
There are total of 24 members in my laboratory including 2 international students, a guy from Korea and myself.
The English ability of the lab members is varied, but mainly we speak Japanese.
A lot of our conversations are about science, so most of it can be explained in Math, by using formulas.
Japanese people are very funny in their own way. Americans are very loud and gregarious.
But Japanese people have these small facial expressions and unspoken communication that is pretty hilarious.
Outline of the research
As everyone is aware, climate change has begun and will continue for millennia to come. What most people are unaware of is the severity, immediacy, and irreversibility of the effects of climate change. Climate change means rising oceans, famine, floods, droughts, mass ocean extinction, mass human migration, and in all likelihood war. These effects will be felt by all people in all countries in a matter of decades.Unfortunately, political inaction has caused the rate of CO2 release to continually increase in spite of relatively cheap technological solutions. Moreover, an immediate, global conversion to a zero-CO2 emission society would not stop the climate change that has already begun. Somehow, we must find a way to circumvent political gridlock and remove not only future CO2 emissions but also what has been emitted since the industrial revolution.CO2 is naturally removed from the atmosphere and oceans when it reacts with Mg/Ca to form stable carbonates. However, this process is extremely slow and will not save us from climate change. However, if this process can be sped up and done for a profit then companies will implement the technology without the need for political action. To make this process profitable I am developing methods to use waste products from industry as a feedstock of Mg/Ca and to concurrently generate products for resale to industry. In this way, the overall process can be made financially viable and a global industry of CO2 capture and conversion can be realized.
What are your plans for after graduation?
Save the world!
I mean the world is going to be OK. People might not be Ok. People might more or less go extinct, and that might actually be better for the world. But for now, I will try to save the quality of life and knowledge that people have built up to this point from climate change.
Are you interested in staying and working here?
I do not know where I will go. If I can make some good technology, then I will go to where that technology is being implemented. My goal is to make the technology that can be run as a company. That being said, I don’t want to just keep the technology to myself and make my own company. It’s not possible for a single company to reduce the CO2 emissions enough for the whole world. So, if I can make some technology, my plan would then be go help other companies to start using it to try to spread the technology. So, I do not know where that would put me. Could be anywhere.
Short message to the prospective students
The ache of regret is unbearable and only ends when you die. The pain of failure is temporary and muted if you have made a sincere effort. So, if there is something you want to achieve, recognize and accept the potential for failure, but don’t let it keep you from trying. If you let your ambitions be quelled by caution, doubt, or social pressure then you have to live with the knowledge that you are a coward. If you honestly strive for whatever goal you have the worst thing that happens is you live with the knowledge that you weren’t good enough, but you are better than most because you actually tried. And who knows, you might just succeed!
