Special Column: Okinawa Needs Major Investment in Widespread Testing Across Okinawa to Protect People and Economy

Special Column to Ryukyu Shimpo

The reality: Okinawa is failing to contain COVID-19

By President Peter Gruss and Prof. Mahesh Bandi

John Lennon once claimed “reality leaves a lot to the imagination”. In other words, reality – the state of things as they are, rather than we imagine them to be – is often much harder to live with.

Special Column of President Peter Gruss: An Urgent Proposal to Okinawa

Special Column to Ryukyu Shimpo

Only a big increase in testing will save Okinawan lives and sustain Okinawan tourism

By President Peter Gruss

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

Following evolutions wayward path

The latest OIST column in the Asahi Shimbun GLOBE+ is out now! The article is in Japanese, but the original English translation is given below.

Following evolutions wayward path
Snake venom provides a useful model for unravelling the mysteries of evolution, says PhD student Agneesh Barua.

The Power of Science to Overcome Crisis

Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun carried President Gruss' special column on COVID-19 and new normal.

Here is the English draft for the article:

COVID-19 Insights from OIST＃9 - Restoring Business and Safeguarding Okinawa: provocative thoughts

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The 9th and the last story was written by President Peter Gruss.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

Restoring Business and Safeguarding Okinawa: provocative thoughts

Okinawa has not had a single new case of SARS-CoV-2 infection since May 1. No patient has tested positive for COVID-19 for more than seven weeks now, and it is safe for us to assume that Okinawans have been living their lives virus free.

New Geometric Perspective Cracks Old Problem About Rectangles

Dr. Andrew Lobb, a visiting professor of the OIST Visiting Mathematics Professor Program has been introduced in Quanta Magazine.

-- While locked down due to COVID-19, Joshua Greene and Andrew Lobb figured out how to prove a version of the “rectangular peg problem.” 

Read the article from here.

COVID-19 Insights from OIST＃8 - The New Normal: Economy

COVID-19 OIST Insight 8

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The 8th story was written by President Peter Gruss.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

The New Normal: Economy

The spread and potential resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 has the world holding its breath.

This virus has been absolutely devastating for global health, but it has also plunged the global economy into jeopardy.

COVID-19 Insights from OIST＃7 - The New Normal for Individuals

COVID-19 OIST Insight 7

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The 7th story was written by President Peter Gruss.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

--

The New Normal for Individuals

SARS-CoV-2 has turned out to be a devastating virus. As of the moment that I am writing this article, it has infected more than 6,800,000 people and claimed more than 390,000 lives. No end is in sight.

COVID-19 Insights from OIST＃6 - Lessons Learned from Other Countries

COVID-19 OIST Insight 6

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The 6th story was written by Prof. Mahesh Bandi.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

---

Since the first coronavirus cases were reported six months ago, nations all over the world have dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic via a wide range of measures. Let us examine the lessons we have learned along the way.

COVID-19: Insights from OIST＃5 - Tracking the asymptomatic traveler

COVID-19 OIST Insight vol.5

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The 5th story was written by Prof. Mahesh M. Bandi.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

In deep water: combatting the extinction of sharks

The latest OIST column in the Asahi Shimbun GLOBE+ is out now! This month we wrote about the shark research that is being carried out at OIST and the University of the Ryukyus. The article is in Japanese, but the original English translation is given below.

In deep water: combatting the extinction of sharks

COVID-19 Insights from OIST＃4 - Vaccine Development

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The forth story was written by Provost Mary Collins.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

------------

COVID-19: OIST Insights #3 - How we can best prevent virus infection and accurately identify the virus?

OIST is collaborating with an Okinawa's newspaper Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The second story of the series was written by President Peter Gruss and Provost Mary Collins.

The article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

------------

COVID-19: OIST Insights #2 - What makes it so difficult to treat viral infections?

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The second story of the series was written by President Peter Gruss.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

What makes it so difficult to treat viral infections?

COVID-19 Insights from OIST#1 - Understanding the threat

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The first story was written by President Peter Gruss.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

Understanding the threat

The new coronavirus COVID-19 has inflicted a global health emergency.

There are physical steps we can all take to reduce its spread and protect human lives. But the fightback is also greatly strengthened by society’s understanding of infectious diseases.

Turning Disability Into Ability

Kaori Serakaki, 43, is a graphic designer at Media Section, the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). Serakaki designs posters and pamphlets for various events the university hosts. Her sophisticated designs have earned high recognition and are essential to her team. The designer has Asperger’s Syndrome, a developmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in communication.

"Look for Something That You Can Really Get Into" (OIST-Shimpo Next Generation Education Project)

As part of the OIST-Shimpo Next Generation Education Projects, OIST and Ryukyu Shimpo cohosted a lecture by Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, a Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine at Ryukyu Shimpo Hall in Naha on March 25th.  OIST has also introduced some of their science for young generations at the exhibition which coincided with the lecture. 

You can read the full article in Japanese from here.

What Makes a Jellyfish?

Scientists in the OIST Marine Genomics Unit have uncovered some surprising history hidden in the genes of two species of jellyfish. The new study, published on April 16, 2019 in Nature Ecology & Evolution, reports the genomes of two jellyfish species and investigated why some creatures can enter the medusa stage while others remain frozen as polyps.

Media Coverage:

NHK Broadcast Satoh Unit's Jellyfish Story

NHK's signature morning program "Ohayo Nippon" broadcast OIST's recent study which was published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

You can learn what makes jellyfish from here: https://www.oist.jp/news-center/press-releases/what-makes-jellyfish

Umibudo Genome Decoding, the Center of Attention!

The Marine Genomics Unit  (Prof. Satoh) has decoded the genome of the popular umibudo (seagrapes), providing data that could someday be critical to local farmers. 

OIST Column: PHD Student Started an Event for Nerds!?

Maggi Brisbin, a PHD Student who studies marine biology at the Mitarai Unit innitiated an event of "nerds", by "nerds" in Okinawa.  Tomomi Okubo from the OIST Media Section contributed the column (available only in Japanese) to the Asahi Shimbun GLOBE+ and introduced why and how she started it. 
https://globe.asahi.com/article/12230647