This symposium was launched in 1994 and has been hosted in rotation by the participating institutions. This symposium aims to facilitate the exchange of information and foster good relationships among top East Asian life science researchers. Originally, it was scheduled to be held in 2020, but it was postponed for a year due to the spread of COVID-19, and it was held entirely online this year as the first online event since the establishment of the EAJS. With the cooperation of all of the participating institutions, we were able to finish the event succeassfully. Owing in part to its being held entirely online, a total of 539 participants were able to join throughout the three days.
First, after Dean Yamanashi gave an opening remarks at the beginning of the program, representatives of each participating institution introduced their organization and participants. Since many participants are new to the symposium, it was a good opportunity for participants to learn about other institutions and participants.
<Opening Remarks by Dean Yamanashi>
From the left: <President Yoon, SIMS>, <Provost Collins, OIST>, <Director Koyanagi, INFRONT>
A total of 8 researchers participated from IMSUT. PI presenters each gave a 12-minute oral presentation and the ensuing Q&A sessions saw lively exchanges.
From the left: <Prof. Nishimura, IMSUT>, <Prof. Mashimo, IMSUT>, <Dr. Han, SIMS>
<Group photo>
Regarding the Young Scientist/Student session, each presenter gave an 8-minute short talk, and poster discussions were conducted. In this Young Scientist/Student session, the short talk session was organized, managed and chaired by the representatives selected from among the participants from the each of young scientist/student delegations. With regard to the poster discussion, all participants including audience members were able to actively discuss and exchange opinions by setting up an e-poster exhibition site that could be viewed online in advance.
From the left: <Poster Discussion>, <Qustions and Answears at the Young Scientist Session>
As a new initiative at this year's symposium, we conducted young scientist session which mainly comprises Assistant Professors and postdoctoral fellows level, and the student session were conducted separately. In addition to the "Best Presenter Award", which recognizes presenters who have given excellent presentations in each session, a "Best Discusser Award" was newly established to recognize participants who have engaged in active, thoughtful discussions during the PI sessions.
Dr. Yu Ishikawa-Yamauchi, a participant in the young scientist session from IMSUT, received the "Best Presenter Award (young scientist category)" for her presentation titled “Age-associated alteration of female reproductive morphology and fertility in mice”. Tied with her, Dr. Hsin-Fang of IBMB was also recognized with this award in the young scientist category, and Ms. Qian Zhou of ShanghaiTech University received the award in the student category. As for the "Best Discusser Award", Dr. Na Li who participated from ShanghaiTech University received the award in the young scientist category, and Mr. Fei Li of SIBCB received it in the student category. Corresponding certificates and memorabilia were presented at the award ceremony.
<Award ceremony by Dean Yamanashi>
From the left: <Dr. Yu Ishikawa-Yamauchi>, <Dr. Na Li>, <Mr. Fei Li>
After all sessions concluded, a commemorative lecture was given by Dr. Hideaki Morishita from Juntendo University, who was the winner of this year's "Ken-ichi Arai Award" which was newly established with this 26th EAJS. After the introduction of the award from Vice Dean Nakanishi, Dr. Morishita made a congratulatory greeting and gave a commemorative lecture on the title of "Physiological roles and molecular mechanisms of autophagy-dependent and independent degradation systems in vertebrates."
<Dr. Morishita from Juntendo Univ. the winner of the "Ken-ichi Arai Award">
At the end of the symposium, Prof. Haitao Yang, Executive Director of ShanghaiTech University extended his greeting on behalf of his institution, which will host the next EAJS.
<Executive Director Yang, ShanghaiTech University>