Activities

2026.8.17

Five ASPIRE Graduate Students Presented at the 20th International Biotechnology Symposium (IBS2026)

On June 29 and 30, 2026, presentations were given at the 20th International Biotechnology Symposium (IBS2026), held at the Kobe International Conference Center.

During the ASPIRE session on June 29, ASPIRE-PI and WPI-AIMEC Vice Director, Fumio Inagaki (Professor, Tohoku University, and Principal Researcher, JAMSTEC) outlined the scientific objectives and initiatives. Prof. Angelicque White (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, ASPIRE Overseas PI), WPI-AIMEC Principal Investigator Prof. Takeshi Obayashi (Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University) and WPI-AIMEC Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Masumi Hasegawa (Postdoctoral Researcher, JAMSTEC) delivered lectures incorporating the latest knowledge related to marine ecosystems. Afterwards, five graduate students from Tohoku University supported by ASPIRE introduced their poster presentations.

At the ASPIRE session on June 30, the same five ASPIRE‑supported graduate students gave flash talks, introducing their research topics and their research stays abroad. In the flash talks, although they expressed concerns about language and cultural barriers, they also conveyed enjoyment in conducting research abroad and a strong motivation to pursue cutting‑edge research. The ASPIRE-supported graduate student presenters were Jaronchai Dilokkalayakul, Tatsuki Ueyama, Shin Kaito, Pierre Simiganoschi and Keisuke Oota.