STS forum’s Annual Meeting Held in Kyoto

The seventh Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) forum was held on 3-5 October and was attended by JSPS president Prof. Motoyuki Ono. JSPS planned and implemented a session for young scientists (203-G3 Session).

STS forum’s Annual Meeting

The STS forum’s Annual Meeting is considered to be the science and technology version of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting held in Davos. As in past years, the forum’s Annual Meeting was held at the beginning of October in the Kyoto International Conference Center. Seeking to spur progress in science and technology while keeping relevant risks under control by applying shared wisdom and values, the participants, comprising scientists, policymakers, business executives, and opinion leaders from countries around the world, engaged in discussions and exchanges of views on the meeting’s theme “Lights and Shadows of Science and Technology.”

This seventh STS forum’s Annual Meeting was attended by about 1,000 people from 104 countries, regions, and international organizations, who participated in discussions in the meeting’s various sessions. The meeting concluded with the issuing of a “statement” on the last day. It can be read on the following website:http://www.stsforum.org/press/PDF/2010/2010Statement_en.pdf

Prof. Winnacker and Prof. Ono with 203-G3 Session participants

203-G3 Session

The 203-G3 Session, “Perspectives from Young Scientists on Science and Technology in Society,” has been held as a component of the STS forum’s Annual Meeting since FY 2008. It was originally established based on a proposal by the STS forum Council that a session be held to assemble young scientists with high potential to become world leaders in their fields of specialization—one that gives them a platform to discuss future S&T prospects and vistas and compile a proposal based on their conclusions and that works to foster young scientists while building networks among them. JSPS is entrusted by the STS forum to plan and carry out this session.

Prof. Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, secretary general, Human Frontier Science Program Organization, chaired the session, featuring speeches by ten young researchers—hailing from Japan, the Asia-Pacific, North and South America, Europe, and Africa—selected by JSPS and the New York Academy of Sciences.

The 203-G3 Session was convened on 4 October. Attended also by a Nobel laureate, it engendered a spirited discussion among the participants on the following five themes:
    1. Early Independence of Young Scientists
    2. International Character of Science and the Mobility of Scientists
    3. Differences in Scientific Cultures between the West and Asia, in Particular Japan
    4. Dual Career Couples
    5. Career Perspectives: Tenure Track and Others

A summary of the discussion results was compiled and presented in the following day’s plenary session.

― Research Cooperation Division Ⅱ