MECOH Lab Members Showcased Water-related Research at WET2026 in Kyoto

The Water and Environment Technology Conference 2026 (WET2026) was held at Doshisha University, Shinmachi Campus (Rinkokan Building), Kyoto, Japan, on July 11–12, 2026. The conference brought together researchers, engineers, and students from around the world to present and discuss recent advances in water and environmental technologies. Through oral and poster presentations, the event provided an interdisciplinary platform for the exchange of research findings, innovative ideas, and emerging technologies that contribute to sustainable water and environmental management.
The conference commenced with an opening ceremony led by Satoshi Akao, Chair of the WET2026 Organizing Committee. This was followed by the presentation of the WET2025 Excellent Paper Award, which recognized outstanding research articles published in the Journal of Water and Environment Technology (JWET) and acknowledged their significant scientific contributions to the field of water and environmental technology.

Members of the MECOH Laboratory actively participated in WET2026. Yuma Hayashi, Dewi Gustari, Md. Shafiujjaman, and Jomel Limbago presented their respective research during the conference, while Diana Rose Mamawal attended the event as a conference participant. Kozo Watanabe, Head of the MECOH Laboratory, also attended and participated in the conference. The scientific program consisted of both oral and poster presentation sessions. The oral presentations followed a three-minute presentation format, in which presenters provided a concise overview of their research, highlighting its significance, objectives, key findings, and potential implications. This session was designed to introduce each study to the audience and did not include a question-and-answer segment.

The poster presentation session, held over one hour, provided an interactive platform for participants to engage in scientific discussions with researchers, students, and faculty members from universities and research institutions around the world. Unlike the oral presentations, the poster session allowed attendees to ask questions, exchange ideas, provide constructive feedback, and discuss potential applications and future directions of the research. It also offered valuable opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and the establishment of future research collaborations.
 
The research titles of the members are as follows: Yuma Hayashi presented his research entitled “Assessment of Antibacterial Activity and Antibiotic Resistance Gene Expression Response of Intermediate Products During Ozonation of Enrofloxacin.” Dewi Gustari presented “Genotype–Phenotype Linkage of Antimicrobial Resistance in Escherichia coli Using Whole-Genome Sequencing: A One Health Perspective.” Md. Shafiujjaman presented “Mechanistic Insights into Matrix-Dependent Ozonation for Antibiotic and ARG Removal from Wastewater,” while Jomel Limbago presented “Genomic Colocalization of Adaptive and Species-Divergent Loci Is Strongest During Incipient Speciation.” Their presentations showcased the diverse research interests of the MECOH Laboratory and promoted discussions with experts from various institutions.
 

The two-day conference concluded with the presentation of the WET2026 Excellent Presentation Award, which recognizes outstanding presentations delivered during the conference. A total of 24 presenters received the award in recognition of the quality, scientific merit, and impact of their research presentations. Among the awardees were Yuma Hayashi and Jomel Limbago of the MECOH Laboratory, whose presentations were selected for this distinction. 

The participation of the MECOH Laboratory members in WET2026 strengthened scientific collaborations, facilitated the exchange of knowledge with researchers, and provided an opportunity to showcase the laboratory's research on an international platform. 

Written and Contributed by: Diana Rose Mamawal

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