9th Tachibana Award winners announced, ceremony taking place 3 March 2017

Published on

Now in its ninth year, the Kyoto University Tachibana Award for Outstanding Women Researchers was established in 2008 to acknowledge the achievements of early-career women researchers at Kyoto University.

Winners of the 2017 Tachibana Award and Honorable Mention Award in both student and researcher categories have been announced as below, with an award ceremony set to take place Friday 3 March in the Symposium Hall of the International Science Innovation Building.

1. About the Tachibana Award

The Kyoto University Tachibana Award for Outstanding Women Researchers recognizes excellent achievements by Kyoto University's early-career women researchers. By publicly honoring women who have produced outstanding work in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, the Award aims to further motivate not only the awardees themselves, but also others following in their footsteps, so as to contribute to the development of women scholars who will lead the future of academic research at Kyoto University and across Japan.

2. 2017 selection process

Applications were received from 21 candidates, 10 in the student category and 11 for researchers. In a two-stage screening process, a 10-member committee chaired by Dr Kayo Inaba, executive vice-president for gender equality, international affairs, and public relations, evaluated the applications and interviewed short-listed candidates, before deciding on the following selections.

3. 2017 awardees

Tachibana Award

Category Name Title/affiliation Research topic
Student Yuko Nakatsuka Third-year PhD candidate
Graduate School of Engineering
Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of amorphous oxide materials
Researcher Hanako Ikeda Associate Professor
Kyoto University Hospital
A new neuroprotective treatment for intractable eye diseases

Honorable Mention Award

Category Name Title/affiliation Research topic
Student Yuiko Kubota Second-year PhD candidate
Graduate School of Engineering
Sudden loss and occurrence of radiation-belt electron fluxes resulting from nonlinear wave-particle interaction
Aya Nakama Third-year PhD candidate
Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies
The sculptures of Bamberg Cathedral and the bridal mysticism of the Song of Songs
Researcher Silvia Croydon Program-Specific Assistant Professor
Hakubi Center for Advanced Research
Developing a multidimensional understanding of, and solutions to issues related to conflicts and protection of human rights in Japan, East Asia, and beyond
Kana Nakatani Assistant Professor
Graduate School of Agriculture
Detailed analysis of mudslide damage

4. Award ceremony

The 2017 Tachibana Award Ceremony and research presentations will be held as follows.

Date and time

Friday 3 March 2017, 15:00-16:00

Venue

Symposium Hall, International Science Innovation Building, 5th floor, Kyoto University

Program

15:00-15:05 Opening address Dr Kayo Inaba
Executive Vice-President for Gender Equality, International Affairs, and Public Relations
Kyoto University
15:05-15:15 Presentation of award certificates and the Wacoal Prizes
15:15-15:25 Presidential remarks
15:25-15:35 Congratulatory address by the guest of honor Hironobu Yasuhara
President and Representative Director
Wacoal Corporation
15:35-15:45 Research presentation 1 Yuko Nakatsuka
Student winner of the Tachibana Award
15:45-15:55 Research presentation 2 Hanako Ikeda
Researcher winner of the Tachibana Award
15:55-16:00 Closing address Professor Shinsuke Kawazoe
Executive Vice-President for Student Affairs and Library Services
Kyoto University

Related link