Prof. Shintake's Documentary

Professor Tsumoru Shintake's twenty-minute documentary was broadcast in his home prefecture, Miyazaki.

The documentary of Miyazaki local TV news program "U-doki" introduced his childhood, past career and his two projects at OIST along with President Peter Gruss' comment. 

We would like to thank those who kindly offered their help to the filming on campus. 

As we have the file of this documentary, please contact the Media Section (media@oist.jp) if you want to watch the video.

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The Media Section

No Fire Ants Confirmed in Okinawa: OIST Says, “Still Need Caution”

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), which has started its contracted field research activities for Okinawa Prefecture to control nine kinds of alien invasive ants, announced on June 26, “Intrusion of any Specified Invasive Alien Species (IAS) has not been confirmed,” including venomous fire ants, one of the four Specified IAS.

Zhang Unit Research on Photodynamic Therapy for Brain Cancer in the News

News outlets are showing interest in research from the Bioinspired Soft Matter Unit on adding the amino acid taurine to photosensitizers used in brain cancer therapy. The type of therapy, called photodynamic therapy, is often used to treat brain tumors because it can specifically target cancerous cells while sparing healthy cells nearby from damage.

Research from the Shintake and Qi Units Featured on CNN

In April this year, CNN came to OIST to learn more about the Quantum Wave Microscopy Unit's wave energy project and the Energy Materials and Surface Sciences Unit's perovskite solar cell project to feature on its “The Future of Japan” series. The link is now up on the CNN website! Click here (edition.cnn.com/2017/06/13/tech/renewable-energy-japan/index.html) to see it and learn how OIST scientists are reinventing the future of energy.

OIST Manza Hari Race Team on the Okinawa Times Front Page!

Twenty-two OISTers participated this Sunday June 18th to the 34th Manza Hari race taking place in front of the ANA International hotel, forming two motivated teams to take on the locals in the dragonboat race.

Despite each team finishing first in their respective qualification runs, their overall recorded times were unfortunately not good enough to qualify for the semi-finals.

A reporter from the Okinawa Times however immortalized the moment with this photo of OIST Team B in action, which was featured on the front page of the Monday edition.

Spanish Media Covers OIST's Marine Genome Research!

Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) in Japan and Australia have sequenced and decoded for the first time the genome of Crown of Thorns Starfish, The path to the biocontrol of this invading predator responsible for the destruction of coral reefs across the oceans.

Prof. Dani in Physics Today!

OIST Professor Keshav Dani just published an already widely shared commentary in the prestigious Physics Today, recounting his experience on multidisciplinary science across the world. His expertise in femtosecond electroscopy led him to work with artwork conservation programs to help analyzing paintings, with neurobiologists to manipulate brain activity and with neuroscientists to build novel microscopes.

Read his full commentary here!

26 Govt Related International Conferences to Be Held at Okinawa in 2017

On June 14, along with related agencies and ministries, Cabinet Office's Okinawa Development and Promotion Bureau held a meeting for promoting international conferences to be held in Okinawa.  CAO and Okinawa Prefectural Government explained about the past records and the progress status on MICE in Okinawa.  According to CAO, there will be 26 international conferences related to government agencies in FY17, all of which are going to be held at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology in Onna Village.

OIST Neuroscience and Takahashi Unit In The News!

New research from the Cellular and Molecular Synaptic Function Unit published in eLife demonstrated the ability to track cellular vesicles within a pre-snypatic terminal in real-time!

Quantum Wave Unit's Graphene in The News!

The Quantum Wave Unit reported a successful use of graphene films to drastically enhance the contrast and quality of Electron Microscopy images with low energy electron beams.

You can read the full story here.

The story has been featured on:

Learning the Joy of Science: Dr. Maeva Techer (OIST) at Science Trip

OIST Science Trip in Miyakojima was started at Miyako High School on June 9, participated by approximately 50 science major students.  Dr. Maeva Techer, a postdoctoral scholar from OIST, explained about her career as scientist and her research theme, and gave some advices for the students. 

Dr. Techer explained, “A scientist’s job is to make thorough searches and then discover something no one else has done found before.  To do this, I work even traveling all over the world.”

Challenges to Infective Disease

BS Japan (BS ch 7)'s science program "Kagaku Michiru" http://www.yakult.co.jp/kagakumichiru/ has featured Prof. Tsumoru Shintake. The theme was "Challenges to infective disease" (The program is in Japanese.)

Takahashi Unit's Research on Alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's in the News

Research results from the Cellular and Molecular Synaptic Function Unit unearthed new knowledge about the toxic role of the protein alpha-synuclein when overabundant in neurons: inhibiting vesicle endosytosis at the nerve terminal. The researchers believe that this inhibitory process is what occurs in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, before morphological changes such as the loss of function and death of neurons begins.

Junior and High School Female Students Aiming for Scientists Gathered at OIST

On May 28 (Sun), the 6^th Science Project for Ryukyu Girls was held at OIST Conference Center with 41 Okinawan junior and high school students accompanied by 26 guardians.

KBS Future Planning 2030 New Science Talents Change in the Future

University of Science and Technology (UST) in Korea,  wanted to introduce OIST as one of the world-class instutes along with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, Helmholtz Institutes in Germany and UTS in a documentary series of the Korean National broadcaster. 

Surprising Team Participated in Maeganeku Harii Race

OIST Harii Teams' challenges were featured in local TV's news.

OIST Fight Against Auto-Immune Diseases In The News!

Prof. Ishikawa and the Immune Signal Unit have seen their research achievements featured in a wide array of national and international news outlets!

They reported a new selective target called JunB for treatments against auto-immune diseases. JunBis a DNA regulator that triggers specific white blood cells in the immune system to turn rogue and start destroying healthy tissues instead of invaders.

Read the full story here.

Busch Unit Quantum Necklaces in the News

Research on quantum necklace structures from Professor Busch's Quantum Systems Unit is appearing in the news! Check here for updates on which publications have been writing about it.

Read the full story from the OIST website here.

Find the original paper here.

Publications are listed below:

Feeling New Era of Science in the Woods of Okinawa -- OIST

Asahi Shimbun Digital's "&Travel" features OIST as one of the must see places while you are in Okinawa. (Only Japanese)

「沖縄の森で感じる、科学の新時代「沖縄科学技術大学院大学」」

Mr. Nakama at OIST : His Positiveness Reduces "Barriers" - Not Run Away From Auditory Difficulties

Masato Nakama, an OIST member from the Rules and Procedures Section was featured on the Ryukyu Shimpo about his positive contribution to the OIST diverse work environment. 

Zhang Unit and Shapeshifting Materials In The News!

The research headed by Prof. Zhang on self-assembling nanomaterials able to change shapes following exposure to UV light has gathered international media attention!

You can read the full story here.

So far the achievement has been featured here: