My name is Aiden Morrison, and in 2025 I’ll be spending a year in Japan, studying Computer Science and Japanese Language at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and Tokyo Metropolitan University. This journey marks the longest I’ve ever travelled, but also the most important in shaping how I think about my environmental footprint.
As someone passionate about technology, I believe innovation and responsibility go hand in hand. That’s why, even before I leave the UK, I’m planning ways to reduce the carbon impact of my international year.
I’ll travel to the airport via Newcastle’s new electric metro system, alongside five friends who are also studying abroad. This reduces our combined emissions and supports cleaner public transport. At the airport, I plan to avoid unnecessary purchases and single-use plastics, and I’ve already budgeted to offset the carbon cost of my flight. While it can’t undo the impact entirely, I believe it’s a meaningful step in the right direction.
Once in Japan, I’ll be using the shinkansen (bullet train) when travelling across the country. It’s not only fast but incredibly energy-efficient, and far more sustainable than domestic flights. Upon my arrival at university, I’m excited to explore on foot, take part in hiking trips, and cycle around Beppu and the surrounding countryside. I’m even planning to complete a livestream cyclathon (cycling marathon) during my stay, raising money for local charities. I would love to have sponsorship of this event, showcasing greener travel as well as cycling safety.
I recently hosted a Hackathon at Northumbria University, in partnership with Northumbrian Water, Bentley and Stream. This event focused on the open data day and tasked attendees to come up with creative ways to tackle waterway, sea and river pollution within the UK. This event was a success and hosted over 60 attendees with 10 teams. This lead to greater awareness for this cause as well as allowing us to work with companies on a similar mission, including a local food catering business focused only on safe, reliable food served fresh at our event.
