As part of the World Lake Day 2026 International Event (tentative title), which is scheduled to be co-hosted by Shiga Prefecture on August 27, 2026, a special session entitled “Lake Impact Challenge” will be held to showcase practical initiatives led by youth for lake conservation and sustainable water environments.

This session will provide an opportunity for youth engaged in activities related to lakes and water environments to share their initiatives with an international audience and engage in dialogue with policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.

We are now inviting presenters for this session as outlined below. We warmly encourage interested individuals and teams to apply.

Overview

(1) Date and Time | Thursday, August 27, 2026, 16:00–18:00 (Japan Standard Time)

(2) Venue | AEON Hall, AEON Mall Kusatsu, 300 Shinhamacho, Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan
* Able to participate in the session either in person or online (remote participation available)

(3) Eligibility | Applicants must be individuals or teams that meet the following criteria:

• • Students, early-career researchers, or young professionals (generally aged 35 or under)
  • Actively engaged in activities related to lakes or water environments
  • Conducting activities that contribute to the creation of environmental, social, and/or economic value associated with lakes
  • Able to deliver a presentation in either Japanese or English
  • Available to participate in preparatory meetings and the session itself

(4) Themes | Initiatives related to lakes and water environments that go beyond problem-solving and demonstrate youth-led efforts toward value creation.
Examples include:

• • Environmental Conservation (e.g., water quality improvement, ecosystem conservation)
  • Social Value Creation (e.g., education, community engagement, culture)
  • Economic Value Creation (e.g., tourism, business development, local industries)
  ★ Particularly welcome are initiatives that:
  • Collaborate with local communities and stakeholders
  • Demonstrate long-term sustainability

(5) Application | Please complete and submit the application form below:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAANAASzkhytUNjNXQlM4U1dNU084TU5GQVVWSFZEVDYySS4u&origin=QRCode

(6) Contact Information
International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC)
　Tel: +81-77-568-4567
　 （E-mail）infoilec@ilec.or.jp

(7) Schedule

*Application Deadline: Friday, July 10, 2026

*Notification of Selection Results: Friday, July 17, 2026

*Orientation Session: Late July or Early August 2026 (online)

*Submission of Presentation Materials: Friday, August 21, 2026

(8) Further Information | Please refer to the flyer at the link below for additional details:

https://ilec.or.jp/cms/wp-content/uploads/eLake_Impact_Challenge_Flyer-Eng_ver-0611.pdf