UOsaka promotes health and sustainability through reusable bottles! Water refill stations unveiled at the Center for Education in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Responding to requests from students, UOsaka’s Center for Education in Liberal Arts and Sciences has installed two new water refill stations for students, faculty, and staff to refill their reusable bottles.

These stations were installed as part of UOsaka’s efforts to improve the learning environment, in response to ongoing requests from students. In addition, the student group “Carry My Bottle” project has been spearheading SDGs awareness activities by those water refill stations, including displays that visualize the amount of water dispensed and the corresponding reduction in CO₂ emissions.

The unveiling ceremony for the new water refill stations was held on June 19, 2026—the day the stations were installed—at the Administration and Lecture Building A of the Center for Education in Liberal Arts and Sciences, with UOsaka President KUMANOGOH Atsushi and student members of the “Carry My Bottle” project in attendance.。

During his opening address, SHINDO Shuichi, Head of the Center for Education in Liberal Arts and Sciences, introduced the background and aims of the initiative. He concluded by expressing his hope that the water refill stations would be used by many people across UOsaka.

President KUMANOGOH then delivered remarks encouraging UOsaka members to make use of the water refill stations from both sustainability and environmental perspectives, using the YuruWani Hakase Tumbler, designed by students of the “Carry My Bottle” project and released in April.

Next, MITSUHASHI Nao, a third-year student in the School of Engineering and representative of the “Carry My Bottle” project, introduced the group’s SDGs awareness activities. He also spoke of his determination to create a society where carrying a reusable bottle and having access to water refill stations are taken for granted.

The ceremony then continued with the unveiling of the water refill stations, joined by TANAKA Toshihiro, Senior Executive Vice President (Education), OZAKI Masanori, Executive Vice President (Finance), KAWAHARA Yukio, Chairman of the Campus Life Committee, and FUJITA Naoya, Director of the Department of Education and Student Affiars. As the curtain was lifted to reveal the water refill stations featuring an illustration of Dr. Wani, cheers erupted from the students gathered at the ceremony.

The ceremony concluded with the first ceremonial refill using reusable bottles by President KUMANOGOH and Mr. MITSUHASHI. Following the ceremony, the water refill stations were being used by many students.

Click here to view a map of water refill stations across UOsaka’s campuses.
To learn more about the story behind the installation of the water refill stations and how it led to such a memorable ceremony, as well as a detailed report on the day, please see the information below.
https://www.celas.osaka-u.ac.jp/celas/water-dispenser-report/