English graduate students travel to Japan to attend international sustainability conference

This year, Megan Lolley carefully folded a small piece of colorful paper, crafting an origami bird, in Hiroshima, Japan.

The small ornament joined thousands of similar origami displayed to represent world peace in a place of once magnificent horror.

In March 2024, Lolley along with Jason Cahoon, University of Idaho English graduate students, traveled to Hiroshima University to represent U of I and the Habib Institute for Asian Studies at an international sustainability conference. More than an academic excursion, the experience was an intersection of scholarship and personal growth.

The backdrop of Hiroshima’s history — it was one of two Japanese cities targeted with an atomic bomb that shepherded the end of World War II — provided the perfect canvas for Lolley’s immersion into discussions of peace and sustainability. From the bustling streets to the tranquil landmarks, every moment in Hiroshima was a testament to the city’s enduring spirit.

“I was overcome by the entire experience,” Lolley said. “The city and culture of Hiroshima were beautiful. I enjoyed some fantastic food and I was happy to learn more about the work that scholars around the world are doing to understand pathways to peace and sustainability.”

As a representative of U of I’s commitment to sustainability and peace, Lolley engaged with attendees of the conference, called the Conference for the Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS). She forged connections and shared insights.

“Every day around breaks and lunch, conference participants visited our beautifully arranged U of I table with its overwhelming number of gold brand, Vandal gear,” Lolley said. “It was great to get to know so many people with so many different interests and backgrounds.”

Beyond her duties at the table, Lolley chaired an Education for Peace session that explored the role of education to foster sustainable peace.

Participating in the 1,000 cranes project dedicated to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima City’s Peace Memorial Park was a highlight of Lolley’s experience. The brightly colored origami cranes displayed en masse at the park are known as symbols of peace. They are folded as a wish for peace in many countries around the world and sent to the city park for display. The connection between paper cranes and peace can be traced back to a young girl named Sadako Sasaki, who died of leukemia ten years after the atomic bombing.

“I found myself toiling over the smallest square of paper,” Lolley said. “It is safe to say I need to practice my origami skills, but I am proud of my haphazard tiny crane!”

As Lolley returned from Hiroshima, she carried with her not just memories, but a renewed sense of purpose.

“Participating in this unique opportunity for cultural exchange and professional development allowed me to understand how important it is to carry these ideas beyond the academic sphere and enact them in our personal lives,” Lolley said. “It was an amazing opportunity, and I am honored to have been a part of it,” she said. “I'm grateful to the Habib Institute for Asian Studies for the opportunity to participate in such a meaningful endeavor.”