The Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Over the years, ISEP has served as a place to “nurture and connect the seeds of sustainability,” providing countless learning opportunities and activities. To continue our growth and further develop young talent, we are now launching a crowdfunding campaign.

On this page, current ISEP interns share their motivations for participating, the appeal of ISEP’s activities, and their hopes and expectations for the future. We would greatly appreciate your support in helping us deepen our learning and pass it on to the next generation.

You can contribute easily from 1,000 yen by clicking the “Support” button at the bottom right of the screen. We welcome your support and encouragement!

Current Intern①：

Turning Small Discomforts into Opportunities for Learning and Action - My First Month of Exploration -

1. Self-introduction and my connection with ISEP

My name is Mayuko Suzuki, a third-year student at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, majoring in Polish Studies within the School of International and Area Studies. I am currently working as an intern at ISEP (Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies) from July this year until January next year through the CSO Learning Scholarship Program offered by the Sompo Environment Foundation.

2. How I started getting involved with ISEP

Through my involvement in a university environmental club focused on achieving carbon neutrality, I developed a strong interest in energy issues and renewable energy. In addition, through interviews with professors conducted as part of classes and club activities, I became aware of the unique challenges and characteristics faced by different local communities. This experience left me with a sense of discomfort about the gap between global goals or guidelines and local realities. Because of this, I wanted to approach energy and environmental issues from a more local perspective, which is why I was drawn to ISEP’s community-driven initiatives for introducing renewable energy.

3. The most memorable experience or episode at ISEP so far

Although I haven’t had many major experiences at ISEP yet, participating in the organization’s crowdfunding efforts has been my first such experience. While creating materials, I had to think carefully about how best to communicate the appeal of the activities, which left a strong impression on me. I also joined a few online meetings, where I was able to learn about the processes and approaches involved in running a crowdfunding campaign. These experiences were especially valuable for me.

4. Impressions of ISEP’s activities, and what makes it attractive or worth supporting

ISEP brings together staff members and interns from diverse backgrounds, and I find it inspiring that lively discussions naturally arise from their different perspectives. I also feel that the openness fostered through intercultural exchange is one of the unique strengths of this organization.

5. Expectations for ISEP and my goals as an intern

It has only been about a month since I started my internship, but even in this short time, I have already gained much knowledge through meetings with other organizations and study sessions with fellow interns. Going forward, I hope to deepen my knowledge further while also visiting the field in person, so that I can gain more hands-on and practical learning experiences.

Current Intern②：

I feel that I am growing through my internship at ISEP!

1. Self-introduction and my connection with ISEP

I am currently interning at ISEP. My name is Yuna Uchida, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Chuo University. I am participating in this internship through the CSO Learning Program offered by the SOMPO Environmental Foundation. I started the internship in July this year and plan to continue until January next year.

2. How I started getting involved with ISEP

I was drawn to ISEP as an internship destination, which is why I got involved. To be honest, I wasn’t particularly passionate about energy at the time. I had a general interest, but if asked whether that was the main reason I decided to take on this internship, I would say it wasn’t. What really attracted me were the videos and testimonials from current interns on ISEP’s website—their activities and the positive, lively atmosphere really caught my attention. Through my internship at ISEP so far, I have felt myself growing, and I truly feel that joining ISEP as an intern has been a great decision.

3. The most memorable experience or episode at ISEP so far

During my internship, I had the opportunity to speak with various people, including those directly involved in renewable energy projects. From this experience, I learned that achieving a goal requires not only careful planning and information but also the networks and connections needed to generate them.

4. Impressions of ISEP’s activities, and what makes it attractive or worth supporting

I think one of ISEP’s greatest strengths is the strong connections among its interns. On days when we work at the office, all the interns eat lunch together and talk about a wide range of topics. Since the interns come from diverse backgrounds, conversations with them are always stimulating. I believe these connections play a major role when interns collaborate on a single project or theme.

5. Expectations for ISEP and my goals as an intern

My internship at ISEP has been a series of invaluable experiences. I want to cherish the connections I have made with fellow interns here and continue to challenge myself in various ways. I hope to use this internship as a stepping stone to enrich my life.

Current intern③

 ISEP is a wonderful organization that connects research, policy, and local communities!

1. Self-introduction and my connection with ISEP

My name is Issei Morgue. I am a first-year engineering student at a university in France. From July 1st, I participated in a full-time six-week internship at ISEP. I joined ISEP because I wanted to learn about renewable energy from a policy perspective. This field was completely new to me.

2. How I started getting involved with ISEP

The reason I got involved was my interest in sustainable urban planning, especially in how it can be effectively implemented in society. As part of a school assignment, I had the opportunity to do an internship related to one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which motivated me to learn more deeply in this field. Since I had never had the chance to study renewable energy in detail before, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to intern at ISEP.

3. The most memorable experience or episode at ISEP so far

One of my most memorable experiences at ISEP was participating in a REN21 workshop with the other interns. The workshop was very interesting and helped me gain a comprehensive understanding of the global renewable energy sector. It was a great experience because I was able to learn a lot while enjoying discussions with the other interns.

4. Impressions of ISEP’s activities, and what makes it attractive or worth supporting

At ISEP, I learned a lot about renewable energy policies, including agrivoltaics (the combination of agriculture and solar power), floating solar panels, and solar canopies. It was my first time exploring the challenges and realities of these policies. I especially enjoyed hearing perspectives from different countries and exchanging ideas with other interns during the REN21 workshop. It was also a great opportunity to practice Japanese, and thanks to the diverse, international group of interns, I was able to feel at home very quickly.

5. Expectations for ISEP and my goals as an intern

It was a very interesting experience to meet many people with expertise in various fields, participate in meetings, and work on a project to plan workshops aimed at sharing knowledge and facilitating discussions on different aspects of renewable energy. My goal for the next internship is to further study sustainable urban planning and deepen my understanding of how renewable energy can be integrated into it. ISEP is a wonderful organization that connects research, policy, and local communities, and I hope to continue learning from and supporting this network in the future.

Current intern④

ISEP is a place where you can feel yourself grow by learning about community power!

1. Self-introduction and my connection with ISEP

I am a master’s student from Aarhus University in Denmark, and I am currently a full-time intern at ISEP.

2. How I started getting involved with ISEP

Having originally grown up in the very north of Germany, between windmills, I have been exposed to renewable energy from a young age. Then, after doing a bachelor’s degree in Japan Studies, focusing on environmental issues in Japan, an internship at ISEP felt like a perfect fit to combine my interest and academic knowledge in a more practical sense.

3. The most memorable experience or episode at ISEP so far

I have only interned at ISEP for three weeks, but I have already learned so much about local energy projects and community participation, for example, through a visit to Musashino Clean Center and a field trip to Iida City in Nagano prefecture, where I joined the Ohisama Energy company and learned about their projects using the natural resources of the region.

4. Impressions of ISEP’s activities, and what makes it attractive or worth supporting

At ISEP, I have learned how important research on community participation and acceptance is for realizing energy projects and accelerating the green energy transition.

5. Expectations for ISEP and my goals as an intern

I would like to deepen my knowledge about the aspect of community participation and the implementation of energy projects on a local scale and assist the staff wherever I can.