OIST Podcasts

Okinawa and its surrounding waters represent what marine biologists call a "shark and ray hotspot" in terms of both diversity and conservation significance.  In this episode of the OIST podcast, Dr. Fabienne Ziadi-Künzli, a marine biologist and shark researcher at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), explained that this region creates unique habitats for sharks throughout their different life stages. Enjoy!   To read the story, please visit here.  

OIST’s first exhibition by a visiting artist transforms data on coral reef health into a thought-provoking artistic experience.  Hiromi Ozaki, known by her artist's name, Sputniko!, is a Japanese British artist combining art and technology to explore social issues. Her work integrates scientific concepts and emerging technologies to question perspectives and highlight important social and environmental issues.  OIST science writer Merle Naidoo recently interviewed Sputniko! for the OIST podcast.  Sputniko! frequently collaborates with scientists, as seen in her project titled “Red Silk of Fate” involving bioengineered silk that combines genetic engineering with cultural mythology. Inspired by Asian mythologies about a red silk line that connects two people who are destined to be together, she collaborated with Prof. Hideki Sezutsu from the University of Tokyo, who also serves as the Research Director at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), to create genetically engineered red silk that contains the “love hormone” oxytocin.  In this podcast episode, Sputniko! discusses the beginnings and challenges of her artistic journey, explaining how science and technology have become central themes in her work. She also shares the inspiration behind her latest exhibition, "Coral Colors," which was on display at the OIST Tunnel Gallery from November 29 to January 9. 

From delivering medicine to managing drone fleets, Vyorius CEO Nishant Singh Rana shares his startup journey and insights with OIST science communicator, Merle Naidoo. He discusses how Vyorius evolved from a drone manufacturer to a rising innovator in unmanned systems management. One standout story is their collaboration with the Indian government during COVID-19, where drone deliveries in Manipur cut vaccine delivery times from 1.5 hours to just 15 minutes! Now based in Japan through the OIST Innovation Accelerator, Nishant is focusing on expanding in Asia, working with airlines, logistics companies, and more. His vision? Skies filled with autonomous vehicles, transforming industries while shifting human roles to higher-value tasks. Curious about the future of drones and autonomous systems? Listen to the full podcast here for more on Vyorius’ innovative approach and Nishant’s entrepreneurial advice.

In our latest OIST podcast episode, science communicator Merle Naidoo talks to Prof. Síle Nic Chormaic, head of OIST’s Light-Matter Interactions for Quantum Technologies Unit. She joined the sixth cohort of Team Homeward Bound, spending 20 intense days of learning and networking on board the vessel Island Sky. Prof. Nic Chormaic explains how she secured the opportunity of a lifetime to visit the frozen continent, the highlights and challenges of her journey, and the precarious future of Antarctica.

OIST COI-NEXT Symposium 2023, reported by the OIST Podcaster-in-Residence  Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence Innovation Center" in 2023.   One year after its establishment, how has the Center's project developed and how will it develop in the future?   On February 20, 2024, the Center's annual symposium "Cutting-Edge Science for Social Implementation" was held. Many stakeholders gathered to share the current status of the Center's projects and confirm the future direction of the Center's activities.  This time on the OIST Podcast, DJ Nick Luscombe, OIST Podcaster-in-Residence reports on the event.  In this episode, you can listen to:  Talk by Hidehiko Otake, CEO, Corundum Systems Biology  Learn more about the OIST COI-NEXT Program: https://bioconvergence.jp/en/  About the COI-NEXT Symposium 2023: https://groups.oist.jp/bioconvergence/fy-2023-coi-next-annual-symposium  About the MANTA Project: https://www.oist.jp/news-center/news/2022/4/25/oist-and-corundum-systems-biology-jointly-establish-fully-automated-multi-omics-microbiome-data 

OIST COI-NEXT Symposium 2023, reported by the OIST Podcaster-in-Residence  Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence Innovation Center" in 2023.   One year after its establishment, how has the Center's project developed and how will it develop in the future?   On February 20, 2024, the Center's annual symposium "Cutting-Edge Science for Social Implementation" was held. Many stakeholders gathered to share the current status of the Center's projects and confirm the future direction of the Center's activities.  This time on the OIST Podcast, DJ Nick Luscombe, OIST Podcaster-in-Residence reports on the event.  In this episode, you can listen to:  Talk by Lauren Ha, Associate Vice President, OIST Innovation  Learn more about the OIST COI-NEXT Program: https://bioconvergence.jp/en/  About the COI-NEXT Symposium 2023: https://groups.oist.jp/bioconvergence/fy-2023-coi-next-annual-symposium  About the OIST Innovation: https://groups.oist.jp/innovation 

OIST COI-NEXT Symposium 2024, reported by the OIST Podcaster-in-Residence  Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence Innovation Center" in 2023.   One year after its establishment, how has the Center's project developed and how will it develop in the future?   On February 20, 2024, the Center's annual symposium "Cutting-Edge Science for Social Implementation" was held. Many stakeholders gathered to share the current status of the Center's projects and confirm the future direction of the Center's activities.  This time on the OIST Podcast, DJ Nick Luscombe, OIST Podcaster-in-Residence reports on the event.  In this episode, you can listen to:  Talk by Prof. Gail Tripp, Human Developmental Neurobiology Unit, OIST  Learn more about the OIST COI-NEXT Program: https://bioconvergence.jp/en/  About the COI-NEXT Symposium 2023: https://groups.oist.jp/bioconvergence/fy-2023-coi-next-annual-symposium  About the Human Developmental Neurobiology Unit: https://www.oist.jp/research/research-units/hdnu 

OIST COI-NEXT Symposium 2023, reported by the OIST Podcaster-in-Residence  Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence Innovation Center" in 2023.   One year after its establishment, how has the Center's project developed and how will it develop in the future?   On February 20, 2024, the Center's annual symposium "Cutting-Edge Science for Social Implementation" was held. Many stakeholders gathered to share the current status of the Center's projects and confirm the future direction of the Center's activities.  This time on the OIST Podcast, DJ Nick Luscombe, OIST Podcaster-in-Residence reports on the event.  In this episode, you can listen to:  Talk by Dr. Karin Markides, OIST President and CEO  Talk by Masayuki Kurihara, Corporate Development Director, OIST Innovation  Learn more about the OIST COI-NEXT Program: https://bioconvergence.jp/en/  About the COI-NEXT Symposium 2023: https://groups.oist.jp/bioconvergence/fy-2023-coi-next-annual-symposium 

OIST COI-NEXT Symposium 2023, reported by the OIST Podcaster-in-Residence    Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence Innovation Center" in 2023.   One year after its establishment, how has the Center's project developed and how will it develop in the future?   On February 20, 2024, the Center's annual symposium "Cutting-Edge Science for Social Implementation" was held. Many stakeholders gathered to share the current status of the Center's projects and confirm the future direction of the Center's activities.  This time on the OIST Podcast, DJ Nick Luscombe, OIST Podcaster-in-Residence reports on the event.  In this episode, you can listen to the Panel Discussion, featuring the following panelists:  Hiroaki Kitano, Professor (adjunct), Integrated Open Systems Unit, OIST  Tim Ravasi, Professor, Marine Climate Change Unit, OIST  Ulf Dieckmann, Professor, Complexity Science and Evolution Unit, OIST  Koshu Kunii General Partner, Lifetime Ventures  Natalia Koshkina, R&D Projects Coordinator, The Global Bioconvergence Cetner of Innovation, OIST  Masayuki Kurihara, Corporate Development Director, OIST Innovation  Chaired by Nicholas Luscombe, Professor, Dean of Research, OIST  Learn more about the OIST COI-NEXT Program: https://bioconvergence.jp/en/  About the COI-NEXT Symposium 2023: https://groups.oist.jp/bioconvergence/fy-2023-coi-next-annual-symposium 

OIST COI-NEXT Symposium 2023, reported by the OIST Podcaster-in-Residence  Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence Innovation Center" in 2023.   One year after its establishment, how has the Center's project developed and how will it develop in the future?   On February 20, 2024, the Center's annual symposium "Cutting-Edge Science for Social Implementation" was held. Many stakeholders gathered to share the current status of the Center's projects and confirm the future direction of the Center's activities.  This time on the OIST Podcast, DJ Nick Luscombe, OIST Podcaster-in-Residence reports on the event.  In this episode, you can listen to:  Opening remarks by Prof. Nicholas Luscombe   Special remarks, “Expectation to COI-NEXT Program at OIST” by Mr. Ichiro Ikeda, Director, University-industry Collaboration and Regional R&D Division, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)  Plenary Lecture by Prof. Fumihiro Haga, The University of the Ryukyus (Deputy Project Leader of COI-NEXT.  Learn more about the OIST COI-NEXT Program: https://bioconvergence.jp/en/  About the COI-NEXT Symposium 2023: https://groups.oist.jp/bioconvergence/fy-2023-coi-next-annual-symposium 

This is third podcast episode where DJ Nick Luscombe, OIST Podcaster in Residence, checks out OIST's Visiting Program (TSVP). In this documentary, you will experience a day in the life of visiting researchers on the OIST campus. In the TSVP office area, we will meet the people who are running the program and hear from visitors about their research. Experience what it is like to be a part of the Visiting Program. Check out the TSVP’s website: https://groups.oist.jp/tsvp.

In this latest episode of OIST’s podcast featuring researchers from the OIST Global Bioconvergence Center of Innovation, a center dedicated to promoting mental, physical, and environmental health based on the “One World, One Health” approach, OIST Podcaster in Residence, DJ Nick Luscombe spoke with Prof. Kenji Doya, leader of the Neural Computation Unit. Prof. Doya and his team work to understand how a healthy mind works by combining artificial intelligence and biological models.