On an unusually warm January afternoon, over 80 students, researchers, faculty, staff, and educators from all over Japan (as well as some from abroad) gathered in Hiroshima to attend the HIRAKU-Global International Symposium, which showcased not only the research, careers, and trajectories or early career HIRAKU-Global Researchers (HGRs), but also words of advice from more senior researchers from both Japan and abroad. Everyone joined in the name of researcher development, as the theme of the symposium was to develop researchers capable of driving globally impactful research. Of course, there is no one "correct” answer given the uniqueness of the situation of each researcher, institution, and country (as well as even regions within the same country), and that is why HIRAKU-Global as a program exists: to support early career researchers in Chugoku-Shikoku to develop into the best researcher that they can be.

The International Symposium first started off with opening remarks from Hiroshima University President OCHI Mitsuo, also HIRAKU-Global Chief Executive Manager, who encouraged all of us to think about what exactly makes a good researcher, well, “good”. After this opening session, we invited Dr. Mary A. VOYTEK from NASA Ames Research Center in the United States of America to give a keynote lecture. Dr. VOYTEK’s formal training is in geology and oceanography, and has had a long and successful career not only in research, but also administration; she also spent several years as Executive Director of the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at Science Tokyo, Japan, giving her unique insights into researcher development in both the USA and in Japan. Dr. VOYTEK made the focus of her presentation collaboration, where she discussed how collaborating across disciplines, cultures, and governments could lead to unique new insights in all avenues, yet still emphasized the point that to be successful with collaborations researchers still must have a very strong scientific base in one (or a few) field(s).

Next, HIRAKU-Global Program Manager Tony Z. JIA gave a brief overview of HIRAKU-Global, specifically discussing some of the program initiatives and researcher development strategies, followed by an introduction of the day’s HIRAKU-Global speakers. Specifically, three senior HGRs (three of the four HIRAKU-Global member organizations were represented) were invited to give presentations about their research, showcasing how they have been able to drive and lead globally impactful research in various fields, with their presentations chaired by 2nd cohort HGR MATSUMOTO Daisuke of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science. The first HGR speaker was Dr. UMEMURA Tomotaka, a 1st Cohort HGR from Hiroshima University, whose background is in social science. Dr. UMEMURA’s talk focused on how his international collaborations led to advances in understanding of how infant/caretaker relationships differ across cultures. Next up was, Dr. SAKAI Hiroshi, a 1st cohort HGR from Ehime University in the life sciences. Dr. SAKAI discussed his unique background in both veterinary studies and medicine, and focused on his research combining his various expertise and training to show how androgens can support skeletal muscle function and growth. Finally, Dr. HASUIKE Rina, a 2nd cohort HGR from Yamaguchi University gave the final HGR presentation. Dr. HASUIKE’s background is in engineering, and she discussed her work focused on both bridge engineering and engineering education, specifically how she is incorporating artificial intelligence into her work.
 

Following a short break, we were happy to invite Dr. TSUKAMURA Hiroko, Professor Emeritus and Designated Professor at Nagoya University, for a keynote lecture. Dr. TSUKAMURA’s expertise is in neuroendocrinology, and she started her lecture with a discussion on her background and research, focusing on how biological sciences can have a direct impact on agriculture and society. Dr. TSUKAMURA then finished her presentation with some words of encouragement for early career researchers in the audience, who mostly come from the Chugoku-Shikoku region of Japan. Dr. TSUKAMURA’s advice and insights for these early career researchers led them to reflect on the type of scientist that they should strive to become in the future.

The final session of the symposium consisted of short presentations by each of the four HIRAKU-Global Advisory Board Members, who each discussed their thoughts and ideas about researcher development broadly. Dr. Robert W. MAHLEY from the USA first discussed best practices for effective presentations and communication skills, followed by Dr. Jeremy P. BRADSHAW discussing his personal experience in international collaboration/exchange as a UK-based researcher. Dr. Alastair G. McEWAN then self-reflected on his experience in researcher development in Australia. Finally, Dr. HARAYAMA Yuko, who is also a HIRAKU-Global consortium mentor, closed the session with a short presentation about her unconventional career path which took her from Japan to Europe and back, and also words of encouragement for the next generation of researchers.

Following the symposium, an exchange event was held in the early evening for speakers, invited guests, and HIRAKU-Global-affiliates, including researchers, staff, consortium mentors, committee members, and operating council members. This allowed the speakers and guests to meet and discuss more directly and personally with those in HIRAKU-Global, so that they could more deeply understand both the program itself as well as the people who make the program. The two keynote speakers also gave short opening and closing remarks which really made the atmosphere perfect for free discussion.

We would like to thank everyone for attending the symposium, as well as all of the speakers and invited guests, including President OCHI, both within and outside of HIRAKU-Global. Similarly, we would also like to acknowledge everyone who contributed to organization of and running of such a lively and diverse symposium. Without these members, such a successful event would not have been possible.

While this was the first in-person HIRAKU-Global International Symposium, it will certainly not be the last, and so we hope to see you (again) at the next symposium!
 

Program

13:00-13:05：Opening Session OCHI Mitsuo President, Hiroshima University
　　　　　　　HIRAKU-Global Chief Executive Manager

13:05-13:45：Keynote Lecture I Dr. Mary A. VOYTEK NASA Ames Research Center, USA 
　　　　　　　"Engaging in science across disciplines, cultures and governments"

13:45-14:05：Introduction to HIRAKU-Global Prof. Tony Z JIA HIRAKU-Global Program Manager
　　　　　　　"What (and Who) is HIRAKU-Global?"

Presentations by HIRAKU-Global Researchers (HGRs)
　　　　　　　Chaired by Dr. MATSUMOTO Daisuke 2nd Cohort HGR, 
　　　　　　　Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science

14:05-14:25：Dr. UMEMURA Tomotaka 1st Cohort HGR, Hiroshima University
　　　　　　　"Cross-cultural comparisons of infant-caregiver attachment relationships: How did our 　　　　　　　international collaboration help us understand universality and cultural differences?"

14:25-14:45：Dr. SAKAI Hiroshi 1st Cohort HGR, Ehime University
　　　　　　　"Androgens in skeletal muscle"

14:45-15:05：Dr. HASUIKE Rina 2nd Cohort HGR, Yamaguchi University
　　　　　　　"My Bridge to the World: AI Technology and the Future of Engineering Education"

15:05-15:15：Break

15:15-15:55：Keynote Lecture II Dr. TSUKAMURA Hiroko Nagoya University
　　　　　　　"Brain Mechanisms Controlling Mammalian Reproduction: How to Succeed in a 　　　　　　　Scientific Career"

Presentations by the HIRAKU-Global Advisory Members

15:55-16:05：Dr. Robert W. MAHLEY Gladstone Institutes, USA
　　　　　　　"Honing Critical Presentation Skills for Success"

16:05-16:15：Dr. Jeremy P. BRADSHAW University of Bath, UK
　　　　　　　"What Next for the HIRAKU-Global Researchers?"

16:15-16:25：Dr. Alastair G. McEWAN University of Queensland, Australia
　　　　　　　"Researcher development across academic career stages"

16:25-15:40：Dr. HARAYAMA Yuko GPAI Tokyo Expert Support Center/ 
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Tohoku University/ Yamaguchi University
　　　　　　　"What challenges do young researchers face today?"

16:40-15:45：Dr. HARAYAMA Yuko GPAI Tokyo Expert Support Center/
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Tohoku University/ Yamaguchi University

Hiroshima University HIRAKU-Global International Symposium FY2025 Organizing Team 

MIYAZAKI Seiichi Executive Vice President (Research)

HIRAKU-Global Operating Council Chair
 

AIDA Misako Professor (Special Designation)

HIRAKU-Global Executive Manager for Hiroshima University

HIRAKU-Global Program Management Committee Chair

HIRAKU-Global Evaluation Development Committee Chair 
 

SUMITA Naoko Executive Manager, 
　　　　 Dept. of Research and Academia-Government-Community Collaboration

KIYOTO Yoshihiro Chief Manager, Research Promotion Group,
　　　　 Dept. of Research and Academia-Government-Community Collaboration

ONO Kazushi Assistant Chief Manager, Research Promotion Group,
　　　　 Dept. of Research and Academia-Government-Community Collaboration

AMANO Yuko HIRAKU-Global Office

SHINOHARA Moeko HIRAKU-Global Office

JODAI Hirohisa Chief, Research Promotion Group,
　　　　 Dept. of Research and Academia-Government-Community Collaboration

MIHARAZUME Masako Research Promotion Group, 
　　　　 Dept. of Research and Academia-Government-Community Collaboration

Tony Z. JIA Professor

HIRAKU-Global Program Manager

HIRAKU-Global Program Development Committee Chair