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The International Conference of Global Network for Innovative Technology 2014 (IGNITE2014) in Penang, Malaysia
The International Conference of Global Network for Innovative Technology 2014 (IGNITE2014) was held 14-16 December 2014.The conference jointly organized by the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Toyohashi Tech to present the results of recent advances a wide range of fields covering applied technology. This was the second time that this conference was held, with the first one being 2013 during the opening of Toyohashi Tech’s Malaysian education base.
In addition to researchers and students from USM, there were many participants from multinational corporations doing business in Penang. As a result, a total of more than 100 people attended, including researchers and students from Japan.
An opening ceremony was held at the Hotel Jen Penang on 14 December 2014 day before the conference. On 15-16 December the participants moved to Toyohashi Tech’s Malaysian education base, where two keynote lectures were given, 70 oral and poster presentations made, and tutorial sessions for young researchers conducted, and very active discussions ensued. Toyohashi Tech’s Taichi Goto, assistant professor at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Information Engineering, received the most outstanding presentation award on the last day.
Participants of IGNITE2014
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Toyohashi Tech overseas alumni meet at Penang Campus
A meeting was held on 13 December 2014 at the Toyohashi Tech Penang Campus (Penang, Malaysia) to establish the overseas branch of Toyohashi Tech alumni. Notably, 33 overseas Toyohashi Tech alumni—from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Pakistan—participated in the meeting. Alumni from Japan and Toyohashi Tech staff also participated. The participants discussed procedures for electing representatives of alumni of each country, recommendations of candidates from Japan for liaison with the overseas branch, and management of the overseas alumni directory.
After the meeting, Tri-Institutional (Nagaoka University of Technology (NUT), National Institute of Technology (KOSEN) and Toyohashi Tech) collaborative overseas alumni meeting was held in Northam All Suite Penang (Penang, Malaysia). The meeting was supported by the Tri-Institutional Collaborative/Cooperative Educational Reform Project, a National University Reform Enhancement Promotion Project launched by MEXT.
In addition to overseas alumni from Toyohashi Tech, the overseas alumni from NUT and KOSEN, representatives from Tri-Institutions and Toyohashi Tech staff and students also participated in the meeting and exchanged opinions about holding future exchange events and organizing the Tri-Institutional alumni network. More than 100 participants deepened their friendship in the social gathering held after the meeting.
Toyohashi Tech alumni overseas branch establishment meeting
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Tri-institutional collaborative overseas alumni meeting
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The Irago Conference 2014
A 360 degree outlook at critical scientific and technological challenges for a sustainable society
Adarsh Sandhu
The Irago Conference 2014 was held 6–7 November 2014 at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. The Conference was organized jointly by the Electronics-Inspired Interdisciplinary Research Institute (EIIRIS) at Toyohashi University of Technology and AIST. The major goal of the conference is to enhance mutual understanding between scientists, engineers and policymakers. Highlighting the increasing awareness for an interdisciplinary approach to research, Irago 2014 attracted approximately 200 participants in the one and a half day meeting.
Papers submitted for publication in the proceedings of The Irago Conference 2014 will be refereed and those accepted will be published in the AIP Conference Proceedings of the American Institute of Physics (AIP).
One of the most anticipated speakers was Dr Chiaki Mukai, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan, who shared her experiences of space flight and insights into "Space medicine is the ultimate preventive medicine".
Highlights of the conference related to advances in life sciences included talks by: Professor Roger Reddel, University of Sydney, on "Telomeres: Opportunities for Targeted Cancer Therapies"; Makoto Asashima, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST),"A simplified view of the complexity of cell stemness, development and differentiation"; Anne L. Plant, National Institute of Standards and Technology, "Measurement of Biological Activity of Cells: Challenges for research and manufacturing"; Joanna Groden, Ohio State University, "Inherited Susceptibility to Cancer: Lessons in Cancer Biology"; Shivendra Singh, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, "Naturally GREEN Cancer Chemorevention"; Renu Wadhwa, AIST, "Indian Ayurvedic Herb-Ashwagandha for Cancer Treatment"; Yoshihiro Ohmiya, AIST, "Mystery of Bioluminescence"; Chae-Ok Yun, Hanyang University, Korea, "Adenovirus/Nanomaterial Complex for Cancer Gene Therapy".
More general topics, such as interdisciplinary research and national projects, were covered by speakers including Ryoji Chubachi, Director of AIST, "Electronics-Inspired Strategies for Basic and Applied Research"; Makoto Ishida, Toyohashi University of Technology, "Interdisciplinary Research at EIIRIS"; T. Madhan Mohan, Department of Biotechnology, India, "Merger of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics" — "Strategic development by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India"; Listyani Wijayanti, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, Indonesia, "Current Status of Biotechnology in Indonesia"; Shin-ichi Yamamoto, Okayama University, Japan, "Development of Interdisciplinary Sciences at Okayama University — Progress, Trend and Future Prospect”.
Experts in fields of research not related to medicine and the life sciences included: Yasuhiro Iwasawa, University of Electro-Communications, Japan, "Intriguing insights into how catalysts behave in automobile fuel cells by advanced XAFS techniques"; Hideki Komatsu, Bridgestone Corporation, Japan, "Tire Technology for the Future"; Jian-Ren Shen, Okayama University, Japan, "An approach to clean, renewable energy source — Water oxidation by a natural catalyst photosystem II".
The Graduate Student Session was held during the lunch break on 7 November 2014, with members of the audience given the task of selecting the best student speaker.
The Irago Conference 2015 is scheduled for 22-23 October 2015 at the Irago Sea-Park & Spa Hotel, Tahara City, Japan.
Information about previous Irago Conferences Irago Conference website: http://www.iragoconference.jp/index.html
Toyohashi Tech International Student Program 2014
A meeting of the Toyohashi Tech International Student Program 2014 was held over five days from Monday 27 October to Friday 31 October, 2014. The meeting included 23 students from six overseas partner universities and 28 students from Toyohashi Tech.
On the first day, the visitors from overseas were given a tour of the campus, language class in basic Japanese, interacted with Toyohashi Tech students and faculty, and a welcome party.
Activities from the second day onwards involved students splitting up into six groups with Toyohashi Tech students (including international students) to discuss topics such as disaster prevention, future cities, and campus life. The visitors deepened their understanding of the research activities and lives of Toyohashi Tech students by visiting laboratories and observing research facilities and equipment as well as attending seminars.
With regards to activities outside the school, the students learned about the process of cleaning polluted water utilizing the power of microorganisms at the Toyogawa Sewage Treatment Center, and participated in a tea ceremony and flower arrangement as Japanese culture experiences. In addition, the students went on a field trip to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology and learned about the development of Japanese industries and technology.
On the final day, each of the groups gave short presentations summarizing their experiences of the program. Although time was short, the students experienced many things, and the training course was rewarding for both the visitors and Toyohashi Tech students.
The program was conducted with some aid from the Sakura Exchange Program in Science of JST. Toyohashi Tech plans to continue to conduct the programs, that will spark the interest of even more overseas students to come to Toyohashi Tech as international students.
Welcome party
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Group discussion
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Visitors to the Toyohashi University of Technology in 2014
・17 Mar. 2014, Dato Seri Jamaludin Hasan, Member of the Board of Governors, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia, and 2 others
・23 Jun. 2014, Prof. Muhammad Basir Cyio, Rector, Tadulako University, Indonesia, and 10 others
・17 Sep. 2014, Mr. Farukh Amil, a Pakistani Ambassador to Japan, Pakistan, and another
・9 Dec. 2014, Prof. Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu, Rector, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia, and 7 others