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NSTDA President
On 23 August, a delegation led by Dr. Thaweesak Koanantakool paid a courtesy visit to JSPS president Prof. Motoyuki Ono. Having been appointed president of Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) in July, Dr. Koanantakool came to Japan to introduce NSTDA’s program to various institutions. While at JSPS, he described the Agency’s activities and expressed interest in JSPS’s Asia-oriented program initiatives. Prof. Ono said that he looked forward to ever-more vigorous scientific exchange between Thailand and Japan. ― Asian Program Division ERC President
On 24 August, a delegation comprising Prof. Helga Nowotny, president, European Research Council (ERC), Dr. Jack Metthey, director (ad interim) of the ERC Executive Agency, Dr. Nicolas Voilley, ERC research program officer, and Dr. Barbara Rhode, head of the Science and Technology Section, Delegation of the European Union to Japan paid a courtesy visit to JSPS president Prof. Motoyuki Ono. They first introduced their organizations and programs to each other and engaged in a free discussion. The European delegation expressed keen interest in JSPS’s initiatives to provide young researchers with expanded international research opportunities, such as through JSPS’s “Young Researcher Overseas Visits Program for Vitalizing Brain Circulation.” As a measure to promote research exchange between Japan and Europe, it was agreed to enhance mutual information exchange. As one way of doing so, it was suggested that JSPS and ERC link websites, thereby providing easy access to each other’s program information. ― Research Cooperation Division Ⅰ Eminent Scientist Prof. Dr. Richard R. Ernst
On 7 October, Prof. Dr. Richard R. Ernst (1991 Nobel laureate in chemistry), who was invited to Japan under the JSPS Award for Eminent Scientists program, paid a visit to JSPS. During this trip to Japan, Prof. Ernst gave five lectures to Japanese researchers and students. In his discussion with JSPS president Prof. Motoyuki Ono, Prof. Ernst extolled the quality and creativity of Japanese researchers, but stressed the need for enhancing education to improve the ability of students to communicate in foreign languages. Prof. Ernst is scheduled to participate as a lecturer in the JSPS-sponsored HOPE Meeting to be held in March 2011. Receiving a description of the HOPE concept from Prof. Ono, Prof. Ernst expressed interest in holding an active exchange of views with the young researchers who will attend the meeting from the Asia-Pacific region. ― Overseas Fellowship Division  |
