The Science Tokyo Global Researcher Welcome Reception was held on Ookayama Campus on the evening of October 30, 2025, to welcome newly appointed international researchers and their families to the Institute. The event attracted over 100 attendees, including host faculty members, deans and directors, university research administrators, Japanese researchers with extensive overseas experience, and other multinational faculty and staff, offering a chance for the new colleagues to get to know one another and develop meaningful connections.
This reception, hosted by President and Chief Executive Officer Naoto Ohtake, also aimed to help promote mutual understanding and academic collaboration among researchers from diverse national and cultural backgrounds. The event has its origins in the Global Researcher Gathering, which began in 1991 and was held 58 times at the former Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech). As the first such event following the integration of Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Tokyo Tech in October 2024, the Science Tokyo Global Researcher Welcome Reception was also an opportunity to celebrate the Institute’s first anniversary and to strengthen a sense of unity in Science Tokyo’s international community.
Following opening remarks by Vice President for International Strategy and Internationalization Patrick Foss, Ohtake was joined by President and Chief Academic Officer Yujiro Tanaka to talk about “building a better, brighter future together.” The executives took turns explaining a wide range of topics, including an overview and the mission of the Institute, the path to integration, and some of its recent international collaborative projects. They also highlighted the Visionary Initiatives (VIs), which together form the Institute’s vision-driven cross-disciplinary research and education framework.
After the presentation, the floor was opened to questions. The attendees inquired about a wide range of topics, such as post-integration challenges, the VIs, research support systems, liberal arts education, and the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, including support for female and international members of the Science Tokyo community. Ohtake and Tanaka provided frank responses as they addressed the Institute’s current circumstances and outlined its future direction.
Following the Q&A session, attendees gathered for a reception in the adjacent venue to kick off the second half of the evening's event. Executive Vice President for Global Affairs Tomohiro Morio shared some opening remarks and gave a toast. The relaxed and casual atmosphere allowed attendees to freely interact and engage in conversation while enjoying some light refreshments.
Two special guests were invited to speak at the reception. Manal Ali, a visiting fellow at the School of Environment and Society, represented the science and engineering fields. Di Wang, a project assistant professor at the Institute of Integrated Research, represented the medical and dental sciences fields. The speakers shared their backgrounds, research interests, experiences at Science Tokyo, as well as their future goals.
The reception was characterized by friendly and relaxed conversations. The event concluded on a high note with closing remarks by Executive Vice President for Global Affairs Jun-ichi Takada, followed by a group photo to commemorate the event.
Feedback regarding the event was very positive. Some attendees expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to talk to other researchers at the Institute, while others said they looked forward to more similar events in the future.
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- This article was updated on January 8, 2026.
Contact
International Affairs Office, International Division
Email iad.events@adm.isct.ac.jp