By Ellen Baker

Six professors hope to offer new perspectives on the recent earthquake and tsunami in eastern Japan.

The UK Japan Studies program, in association with the UK Asia Center, is hosting a “Forum on the Great East Japan Earthquake” Monday from 4:10 to 6:10 p.m. in the William T. Young Library Auditorium.

Dr. Masamichi Inoue, director of the Japan Studies program, will introduce and moderate a panel of five professors who will discuss the issues relevant to the events in Japan.

“It’s a great educational opportunity to learn about information sharing and engagement in local and social issues … and being connected to the world,” Inoue said.

“It’s hard to get some perspective with all the different news sources,” said Dr. Doug Slaymaker, a professor of modern and classical languages, literatures and cultures, who was in Tokyo at the time of the earthquake.

“The parts that are bad are bad,” Slaymaker said. “A lot of people have died and a lot of people are out of houses; it’s a serious catastrophe. Then there are parts where it’s not bad. The city of Sendai — the biggest city closest to the quake — that’s 200 miles north of Tokyo.  Not all of Japan looks like what you’re seeing.”

Slaymaker will talk about his experience to help paint a clearer picture of what is happening in Japan and what is not.

Dr. Keiko Tankaka, professor of community and leadership development, and Dr. Akiko Takenaka, history professor, both saw the aftermath in Japan after flying in the day after the catastrophe on a short, scholarly trip.

Takenaka was living in Tokyo in 1995 during the Kobe earthquake and plans to compare the two experiences. He wants to determine if the research and improvement methods put into place after the Kobe earthquake are currently being implemented and if they were proven useful.

“There will be professors who will talk about nuclear power and earthquakes, and that’s the nature of two of the disasters,” Takenaka said. “It’s more of a nuts and bolts kind of perspective to understand the earthquake and the succeeding catastrophes — it’s a good opportunity.”

Dr. Susan Gardner, a physics and astronomy professor, and Dr. Dhananjay Ravat from earth and environmental sciences will also be on the panel to offer scientific explanations of the earthquake and the situation at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Inoue will also discuss appropriate methods of donations. Donations for the Japanese Red Cross will be accepted at the event.