Science Tokyo welcomes new global researchers

On the evening of October 30, 2025, Science Tokyo presented a special event to welcome newly appointed international researchers and their families to the Institute. Over 100 attendees gathered for the “Science Tokyo Global Researcher Welcome Reception,” held at the Science Tokyo Front on Ookayama Campus, including host faculty members, deans and directors, university research administrators, as well as other multinational faculty and staff. The event offered 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 had been held 58 times since 1991 at the former Tokyo Institute of Technology. As the first such event following the integration in October 2024, it was also an opportunity to celebrate Science Tokyo’s first anniversary together with its international community and to strengthen a shared sense of unity towards future growth.

Following opening remarks by Patrick Foss, Vice President for International Strategy and Internationalization, Ohtake was joined by Yujiro Tanaka, President and Chief Academic Officer, to talk about “Building a Better, Brighter Future Together.” Their presentation saw them take turns explaining a wide range of topics. Starting with an overview of the Institute, they described its mission, the path to integration, and some of its recent international collaborative projects. They also highlighted the Visionary Initiatives (VIs), Science Tokyo’s new Institute-wide vision-driven integrated research framework.

After the presentation, the floor was opened to questions, and 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 imbued with a touch of wit 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. Tomohiro Morio, Executive Vice President for Global Affairs, 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 refreshment.

Two special guests were invited to speak at the reception: Manal Ali, Visiting Fellow at the School of Environment and Society, representing science and engineering; and Di Wang, Project Assistant Professor at the Institute of Integrated Research, representing the medical and dental sciences. 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 Jun-ichi Takada, Executive Vice President for Global Affairs, followed by a large group photo, taken with a cheerful cry of “Science Tokyo!”

Attendees shared some of their positive impressions of the reception: