On 3 March, the ceremony for the ninth Kyoto University Tachibaba Award for Outstanding Women Researchers took place. The award honors distinguished achievements of early-career women researchers at Kyoto University.
Dr Kayo Inaba, executive vice-president for gender equality, international affairs, and public relations, and the chair of the Tachibana Award selection committee, commenced the ceremony with opening remarks, which included explanation on the selection process. President Juichi Yamagiwa then presented certificates and plaques to the 2017 awardees: Ms Yuko Nakatsuka, PhD candidate at the Graduate School of Engineering (Student Category), and Dr Hanako Ikeda, associate professor of Kyoto University Hospital (Researcher Category). The Wacoal Prize was also presented to each of the awardees by Mr Hironobu Yasuhara, president and representative director of Wacoal Corporation.
The Honorable Merit Award presentation followed, in which President Yamagiwa and President Yasuhara handed certificates and additional prizes respectively to the recipients: Ms Yuiko Kubota, PhD candidate at the Graduate School of Engineering; Ms Aya Nakamura, PhD candidate at the Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies; Dr Kana Nakatani, assistant professor of the Graduate School of Agriculture. Another recipient, Dr Silvia Croydon, program-specific assistant professor of Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, was absent from the ceremony due to her maternity leave.
President Yamagiwa delivered a complimentary address, wishing the awardees further success. President Yasuhara delivered a congratulatory address.
The Tachibana Award winners then made presentations on their research topic: "Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of amorphous oxide materials" by Ms Nakatsuka, and "A new neuroprotective treatment for intractable eye diseases" by Dr Ikeda.
After the enthralling presentations by the awardees, Dr Shinsuke Kawazoe, executive vice-president for student affairs and library services, delivered a closing address, which wrapped up the event on a high note.
President Yamagiwa delivering a complimentary address
President Yasuhara delivering a congratulatory address
The Tachibana Award recipients
The Honorable Merit Award recipients
