2025 Activity Report vol.35:The University of Osaka

The University of Osaka (UOsaka) hosted a short-term exchange program from January 18 to 24, 2026, inviting students from National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) and National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), Taiwan. During part of the program, students and faculty members from Kasetsart University, Thailand, who were visiting Japan at the same time, partially participated in the program, which created a valuable opportunity for international exchange among participants from multiple countries.

After the arrival of the accommodation in Osaka on the first night, the main activities began on the second day. Following an orientation session and an introduction to the educational programs at the Graduate School of Science (GSS), UOsaka, the participants took part in a hands-on training session using advanced analytical instruments. They experienced the Micro-ED instrument, which was recently introduced at UOsaka, and learned about cutting-edge techniques for determining molecular structures from microcrystalline powder samples. Being able to see the instrument up close and operate it firsthand gave the participants a rare and valuable opportunity to experience advanced structural analysis using electron diffraction.

On the third day, the participants took part in laboratory and research facility tours. In the morning, they joined a lab tour covering six laboratories in the Departments of Chemistry, Macromolecular Science, Biological Sciences, and Earth and Space Science, in the GSS. In the afternoon, they toured shared research facilities, including the Mass Spectrometry Center, the Analytical Instrument Facility, the Research Center for Thermal and Entropic Science (RCTES), and the Radioisotope Research Center. These visits helped them better understand the research infrastructure and educational environment that support scientific activities at GSS-UOsaka.

On the fourth day, the program included a company visit and tours of research facilities in the Suita Campus of UOsaka. In the morning, the participants visited Alpha Fusion Inc., a company collaborating with GSS, where they learned how research achievements originating at university are developed into social and industrial applications. In the afternoon, they visited the Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN) and the Institute for Protein Research (IPR), gaining a deeper understanding of how scientific research at UOsaka connects with a wide range of academic and applied fields.

On the fifth day, the participants visited Tekijuku, one of the historical roots of UOsaka, where they learned about the origins of modern science and education in Osaka. They also visited the Nakanoshima Center of UOsaka and the National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku) in Expo'70 Commemorative Park, giving them an opportunity to experience the rich culture and environment of the Osaka region.

On the sixth day of the program, an exchange symposium titled “SSP Mini Symposium 2025” was held at Nambu Yoichiro Hall, GSS-UOsaka. Following university introductions by faculty members from the participating institutions, students gave flash presentations on their research. A total of 18 students (8 from Taiwan, 5 from Thailand, and 5 from Japan) took part in the session. Students from a range of disciplines, including physics, chemistry, and biology, presented their work, leading to lively discussions across fields. The symposium concluded with a group photo session, a networking event, and an award ceremony, further strengthening connections among the participants.

This program deepened mutual understanding among students and researchers from Taiwan and Japan, while also creating an important opportunity for multilateral exchange involving participants from Taiwan, Thailand and Japanese students. It effectively showcased the international and interdisciplinary environment of GSS-UOsaka, and it is expected to lead to future study opportunities and collaborative research.