Issue 6 1 Hokkaido University Times June 2018 | Issue 6
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Hokkaido University Times Hokkaido University’s E-Newsletter Contents Hokkaido University Ranks within Top 100 Universities Worldwide ....................................... 2 Appointment of Ms. Outi Snellman as Hokkaido University Ambassador ................................... 3 Hokkaido University hosts delegation of Russian university rectors and students for the General Assembly Meeting and Student Forum .......................... 4–5 Spotlight on Research: Boxing, Evictions and Povery in the Philippines ................................... 6–7 Key molecule for flu infection identified .......................................... 8 Citizen science — A powerful tool to combat invasive giant slugs ................................................... 9 Hokkaido University Festival 10 Cover photo: Lupine flowers on campus June 2018 | Issue 6 1 Hokkaido University Times June 2018 | Issue 6 Ambassador and Partner Activities 126 Partners have been appointed Organization at the University of the Appointment from 34 countries. Arctic and Director of the University of Lapland. The University of Lapland of Ms. Outi On Wednesday, June 6, the Hokkaido has a long history of exchanges with University Ambassador Appointment Hokkaido University, having signed an Snellman as Ceremony was held for Finnish Inter-University Exchange Agreement Hokkaido University Ambassador Ms. on June 2011. Hokkaido Outi Snellman. The appointment of Ms. Snellman Ms. Outi Snellman has been of as Hokkaido University Ambassador University great assistance in promoting will help further the development of collaborations between Hokkaido international research collaborations Ambassador University and the University of with the University of the Arctic Lapland. She was primary responsible and University of Lapland, expand for the opening of a joint symposium the Learning Satellite Program and The university has been appointing between Hokkaido University and Hokkaido Summer Institute, and Hokkaido University Ambassadors Finnish Universities, the University of promote educational and research and Partners to those who support Hokkaido University Ranks within Top 100 Lapland and University of Oulu, and exchanges between the more than and strengthen the university’s global established the program accepting 200 universities associated with the network, community and international Universities Worldwide students for Hokkaido University’s University of the Arctic. public relations activities since April First Step Program, amongst 2016. To date, 31 Ambassadors and Results from the Nature Index, a data on the total number of articles Index page for more information: other activities as Vice-President database that tracks contributions published by each institution https://www.natureindex.com/ to articles published in a group of during the recorded year; for the institution-outputs/japan/hokkaido- highly selective science journals, year March 2017–February 2018, university/5139072d34d6b65e rank Hokkaido University as the the Nature Index totaled 223 6a002178 Top 100 academic institution in the articles published exclusively by world, and the Top 8 in Japan this or in collaboration with Hokkaido year. The Top Global and Top Japan University researchers in the spot were awarded to Harvard eligible journals. The database is University (Massachusetts, USA) compiled by Nature Publishing and the University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Group (NPG) and the journals are Japan), respectively. selected for consideration by two panels of scientists representing Rankings were calculated based on the physical and life sciences, a weighted “fractional count”, or and include globally recognized “WFC” score, which assigns tallies publications such as Science, to each institution based on the Nature, and various nationally number of contributing researchers sponsored research journals. from an institution to the published Ms. Outi Snellman and Prof. Masanori Kasahara, Executive Commemorative photo paper. The database also collects Visit the Hokkaido University Nature Director and Vice President of Hokkaido University 3 2 3 Hokkaido University Times June 2018 | Issue 6 Hokkaido University hosts delivered lectures to the attendees following the General Assembly delegation of Russian Meeting theme of the “Promotion of Human Resource Development university rectors and for Japanese–Russian Economic Cooperation and Personal students for the General Exchange.” The following day, Prof. Victor Assembly Meeting and Sadovnichy, Rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University, gave a Student Forum keynote speech about the history of the Japanese–Russian Forum of and the Japan–Russia Student before members of the Assembly. Hayashi and Russian Consul Roman st Rectors and the Russian Rector’s The 1 General Assembly Meeting of the meeting. Following President Forum discussions. The results Kolesnik. The students proposed the Union. Prof. Kiyoshi Yamada, of the Association of Institutions Nawa’s opening statements, of these discussions included the Coinciding with the General establishment of the Student Union, President of Tokai University, also of Higher Education of the Russian assembly members heard brief establishment of the Committee for Assembly, the Japan–Russia Student which was agreed upon and praised gave a keynote speech about th th Federation and Japan took place speeches from guests of honor Personnel Exchanges between Japan Forum was held on May 18 and 19 by both the Minister and Consul. th strengthening inter-academic over the weekend of May 19 and Mr. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister and Russia, the Japan–Russia Student in the Conference Hall of Hokkaido th exchanges with Russian universities. 20 . The events were held as a part of of Education, Culture, Sports, Union, and the Steering Committee University. The purpose of the forum Finally, Rector Sadovnichy was the Human Resource Development Science and Technology (MEXT), for Specialized Sections. In addition, was to build mutual understanding awarded an honorary degree from After the speeches, three parallel th Platform for Japan – Russia Mr. Manabu Horii, Parliamentary both sides agreed to promote and friendly relations through student Hokkaido University on May 19 sessions under the Economic Cooperation transdisciplinary exchanges among exchanges. 34 students in total from to honor his achievements for subtopics “Personnel and Personnel Exchange young researchers, interdisciplinary Japan and Russia participated in the contributions to personnel and Exchanges,” “Health and (HaRP) at both the research, and industry–academia forum and earnestly discussed the academic exchanges between Medicine,” and “Regional Conference Hall of collaborations. Finally, Moscow State proposed Japan–Russia exchanges both countries, his exchanges with Development” were held Hokkaido University University was confirmed as the host for many hours. During the General Hokkaido University, and for his as well as the HU–MSU nd th and Keio Plaza Hotel of the 2 General Assembly meeting, Assembly Meeting on the 19 , assistance in the establishment Round Table “Russian Sapporo. to be held next year. President Nawa student representatives from Japan of the Association as well as the – Japanese Cultural and Rector Sadovnichy approved all and Russia presented the outcome of implementation of the General Dialogue.” In each parallel About 200 people points presented in the communique their discussions to General Assembly Assembly. session, exchange plans paritcipated in the in the official Signing Ceremony participants MEXT Minister Yoshimasa General Assembly were introduced by each Meeting. This included university and there presidents and vice were active discussions Photo captions: presidents from 21 concerning the promotion of future inter-university P. 4: President Nawa and Rector Sadovnichy of Lomonosov Japanese and 11 Russian Moscow State University holding the communique member universities, as exchanges. President well as non-member Nawa and Rector P.5 top: General Assembly Meeting commerative photo Sadovnichy agreed upon universities and business P.5 bottom: Mr. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister of Education, representatives with a a shared vision of a new Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and President strong interest in inter- era in Japan–Russia inter- Nawa talking with student representatives from the Japan–Russia Student Forum university exchanges between the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, university exchanges, and promised two countries. Ms. Harumi Takahashi, Governor of that both universities would lead the Hokkaido Prefecture, and Mr. Andrey future of these exchanges together. The assembly opened with remarks Fabrichnikov, Consul-General of the from Hokkaido University President Consulate-General of the Russian In the last part of the General Toyoharu Nawa, who acted as Federation in Sapporo. Following Assembly Meeting, a communique representative of one of the the opening ceremony, faculty was created based on the organizing universities and co-chair members of Hokkaido University outcomes of the parallel sessions 4 5 Hokkaido University Times JuneSeptember 2018 | Issue 2017 2017 6| |Issue Issue 3 3 Spotlight on Research Boxing, Evictions and Poverty in the Philippines “For a single event, there are many the city presents, stories, many realities,” explained retired boxers often Dr. Ishioka (far left) enjoying life in the boxing gym Dinner time with the boxers Associate Professor Tomonori end-up living in the Other than the discord this causes and build strong social networks.