Activity Report of Open Application Course vol.3
Young researchers from Asia participate in joint research on experiment and theory in Quantum Molecular Science
Report from Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ibaraki University
Supported by the SAKURA Exchange Program in Science, the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ibaraki University invited graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and nine faculty members from India, Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan for 19 days from May 21st to June 8th, 2018. They have participated in a course in “Joint research utilizing the network of Asian countries connecting experiment and theory in Quantum Beam Molecular Sciences”.
An introductory meeting was held on the Mito Campus on May 22nd. Mitsuru Baba, Vice-President of Ibaraki University gave a welcome speech, and Prof. Takamitsu Kohsuma, Director of the Institute of Quantum Beam Sciences, provided a summary of the Institute, and Prof. Seiji Mori (Organizer), Deputy Director of the Institute of Quantum Beam Sciences, gave the opening remarks as well as an introduction to the organizations which were invited to this program. Following the opening meeting, joint research on the challenges related to the Quantum Beam Molecular Sciences was conducted at the laboratories of Mito Campus, and at the laboratories of Tokai Satellite Campus.
The invited group participated in the 3rd International Symposium of Quantum Beam Science at Ibaraki University (Mito Campus), with the main theme set to ”Quantum Beam in Biology and Soft Materials” to discuss research using Quantum Beam of the molecular structure and the properties of biomolecule of protain, etc. and soft materials, as well as to seek its applications. In the afternoon of May 30th (during the 3rd International Symposium of Quantum Beam Science at Ibaraki University), they were also visited to the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) in Tokai Village. Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) covered their visit to the facility.
The ”Asian Workshop in Experiment and Theory in Quantum Beam Molecular Sciences” was held at Mito Campus, organized mainly by the SAKURA Exchange Program in Science Steering Committee on June 3rd. Professors from Ibaraki University, invited lecturers and faculty members from invited institutions (leaders of the participants) provided speeches followed by the openig remarks by Hisaki Ozaki, the Executives and Vice President of Ibaraki University. All invited participants of this program, including graduate students, made speeches as invited lecturers. The total number of the attendants of the event was as small as 30, but lots of questions and answers were exchanged at the venue.
On June 6th, the day before their departure, they visited Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo) where the most advanced science and technology of Japan are shown. All of the participants arrived at their home countries safely. Their feedback showed that they were highly satisfied with this program. For example, “This international academic exchange was very useful to me”, “I have learned new research methods and research styles” and “The network among us the invited countries have gone stronger”.
Joint research will continue to be conducted with these people and academic exchanges shall be developed more in-depth with these participating institutions in the future as well. We are looking forward to further success of these young researchers who participated in this program, and everyone, including people from JST, who gave support to make this happen by organizing and carrying out this program are highly appreciated.
