MEXT Scholarship Series: 2020 Scholarship Student at the University of Tsukuba - Jonathan Ramtahal

My name is Jonathan Josh Ramtahal, I am an awardee of the MEXT Monbukagakusho Scholarship 2020. I am from Trinidad and Tobago and I grew up in the small village of Plum Mitan, Biche, where my interest in the biological sciences and the environment began from a very young age. The village of Plum Mitan is located approximately 15-20 mins drive from the Manzanilla Beach, which my family and I would frequent. Longer excursions like weekend trips would allow my cousins and I to explore the shore line, investigating debris covered with barnacles, digging in the sand for “chip-chip”, chasing “big eye” fish in the waves and poking beached jelly fish to try and deflate the “balloon”.  These experiences along with many other throughout Trinidad and Tobago solidified my bond with the natural environment and my love and hope to see it preserved for future generations, so they too can create memories, which I hold so fondly. At the undergraduate level, I pursued my bachelor’s degree at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus where I studied Biology (Major) and Environmental and Natural Resources Management (Major). The courses I read for at the UWI, provided me a wealth of knowledge but made me more curious as to the workings of the biological world around us and its future.

Being awarded this opportunity of the MEXT Scholarship, provides me with the avenue to gain technical knowledge on the changes occurring in the natural environment due the impacts of human activity. My research focuses on climate change and how the oceans are affected (ocean acidification and warming), as well as, microplastic pollution in the marine environment and its effect on biota and the food web. I was accepted to study at the University of Tsukuba, which ranked 9th in Japan’s top University by Time Higher Education 2020. I chose University of Tsukuba due to its reputation as a leading research institute, and their focus on internationalization through research exchange and co-operation.  My studies will be conducted at the Shimoda Marine Research Center, Shizouka prefecture. A world class institute where inter-disciplinary marine research is undertaken, and international scientists are part of the academic staff. The resources available at the institute leave little to be desired as a budding researcher, from having access to sampling vessels, state of the art monitoring equipment and machinery, and its own in house wet lab where ex-situ experiments can be carried out using a constant supply of sea-water to mimic the natural environment.

During my time in Japan I hope to become proficient at Japanese, learn more about Japanese culture, share my Trinibago culture with those around me and explore the Japanese countryside both on land and sea. The MEXT Scholarship puts me a step closer to becoming an academic, as my passions lie in research and science education. It is said we fear what we do not know, I strongly believe “knowledge is power” and it holds the key to understanding oneself and the world around us. The care of our planet, its inhabitants and resources are our responsibility and I look forward to doing my part to ensure its future.

Thanks to Ambassador Tatsuo Hirayama, and the staff at the Embassy of Japan, I am afforded this opportunity; I am truly humbled and look forward to representing Trinidad and Tobago while learning more about the land of the rising sun and its people, forging new friendships and continuing to encourage bilateral relations in research and development between our countries.


MEXT Scholarship Series: 2020 Scholarship Student at the University of Tsukuba (Japanese Embassy Facebook)


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