On 13 February, the 8th Kyoto University-Inamori Foundation Joint Kyoto Prize Symposium (KUIP) took place online with around 1,150 participants, including high school students, researchers, and members of the general public.
This latest edition of the annual conference, inaugurated in 2014, explored the theme of "Immune System Regulates Whole; Cancer, Aging, Brain, Microbiome" with four speakers: Professor Tasuku Honjo, director of the Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunobiology (CCII), Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, and recipient of the 2016 Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences; Professor Yoko Hamazaki of the Kyoto University Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA); Professor Masaaki Murakami of the Hokkaido University Institute for Genetic Medicine (IGM); and Dr Sidonia Fagarasan, program-specific professor at CCII and team leader for the Laboratory for Mucosal Immunity, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS).
The researchers presented on cutting-edge developments in their fields and then took part in a panel discussion, moderated by Professor Hamazaki. The topics discussed by the group included the challenges being encountered in the panelists’ respective research areas and the importance of thinking flexibly and trying new approaches when faced with an obstacle. The panelists also responded to audience questions and, before concluding the session, offered a message of encouragement to young aspiring researchers: "Try to discover what it is that you want to do."
Some viewer comments received afterward:
- "I appreciated the references to personal pandemic experiences. They made the topics relatable and easy to understand for me."
- "I was impressed listening to the researchers discuss future prospects, realizing that they are not just focused on their current projects but are always looking ahead."
- "The speakers emphasized the importance of beginning with implementation and, when feeling at a loss, taking a different approach or perspective, or leaving the problem alone for a while. I found this idea very convincing, especially when I thought about how the work of researchers must require a great deal of patience."
Related link
Kyoto University-Inamori Foundation Joint Kyoto Prize Symposium (KUIP)
Linked to the Presentation Videos page, where content from the 8th KUIP will be made available at a later date
