Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology OIST

News

Photograph with a small square diamond glowing red as a result of being illuminated with a green laser, suspended above a smooth cylindrical magnet.

First observation of quantum spins shifting a centimeter-scale object in the lab

Largest-ever object displaced via spin force alone sets a new standard for studying macroscopic superposition and quantum gravity.

Microscope close-up of a coral specimen with a teal blob of plastic.

Research Update

New form of plastic pollution discovered on the shores of vulnerable coral reefs

‘Plasticorals’, coral rubble fused with plastic, are long-lasting reminders of human activity and highlight a potential threat to critical marine environments.

Dr Ryuho Kataoka stands arms spread wide under a bright starry-sky featuring a green aurora. He is next to a fence and some scientific equipment in a snowy tree-lined field.

Research Update

The man sending cameras to Mars

Meet Dr Ryuho Kataoka, an aurora expert on a mission to take pictures from other planets.

Institutional News

Four deep-tech startups selected from around the world begin new ventures in Okinawa

Working with OIST and local partners to drive innovation in agriculture, drug discovery, environmental technology, and medical devices

Graphical illustration with two silhouetted children, one reading from a book, with a squiggly line between them.

Research Update

Visual aids help school-aged children with ADHD recount stories

New study paves the way for creating supportive learning and social environments for children with ADHD-associated difficulties.

Research and Faculty

OIST has no academic departments. Researchers from more than 50 countries collaborate across and combine scientific disciplines to pioneer new approaches to discovery and problem-solving.

Research at OIST

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Faculty and Research Units

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Under the Surface

Taking a deeper look at how OIST research helps answer life’s big questions

Blueface angelfish swimming among colorful coral reefs in Okinawa, Japan's underwater paradise.

How can we keep coral reefs healthy?

The Ryukyuan islands are home to stunningly beautiful coral reefs, making OIST one of the best places in the world to study these fascinating, fragile ecosystems. By understanding the scientific foundations of coral reefs, we can inform future conservation efforts. In the latest Under the Surface, we explore the threats facing coral reefs, tactics to monitor biodiversity, and many other aspects of OIST’s coral research.

Learn more about corals

Research Events

07 - 09 Oct 2026

Symposium

Mini-Workshop on Gauge Theory and Low-Dimensional Topology

09 Oct 2026

Research

[RAM2026] “Lost in Translation: How to Communicate Openly Across Cultures”, DEI Lunch Seminar

13 Oct 2026

Seminar

[Seminar] From 2D Chips to 3D Brains

13 Oct 2026

Seminar

[Seminar] "Towards a Bogomolov-Miyaoka-Yau inequality for symplectic 4-manifolds, II" by Paul Feehan

13 Oct 2026

Seminar

[Seminar] Mr. Jonas Habel "Bloch Oscillations Revisited: Beyond Charge Transport"

13 Oct 2026

Seminar

[Seminar] "Universal Link Invariants via Configuration Spaces" by Cristina Ana-Maria Anghel

Study at OIST

Apply for our 5-year PhD program in Science. We also offer short-term Research Internships. Both programs are competitive, cross-disciplinary, fully funded, and taught entirely in English by world-class international faculty.

"The high-trust environment lets us all be much more creative."

OIST’s high-trust environment and shared access to state-of-the-art research equipment are what inspire Alex to build new things during his PhD. Lab rotations helped him explore interdisciplinary research fields and gain valuable insights for research.

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“My incredibly supportive supervisor and the low student-to-professor ratio allowing for personalized instruction have helped me thrive at OIST”

Studying at OIST was a transition to Sarah’s adulthood and career as a scientist. The internationally competitive student support at OIST, the low student to faculty ratio and the personalized instruction by our world-class faculty helped her to thrive.

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“My project is my own, rather than something I was assigned.”

Callum appreciates the freedom to go beyond structured and pre-defined PhD projects. Explore ideas, develop questions, and take ownership of the research. An environment of constant learning—not just from the research, but from the people doing it.

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Driving Innovation Toward Impact

OIST connects world-leading research and global business to co-create solutions to society’s most pressing challenges – attracting talent to Okinawa’s emerging innovation ecosystem.