The 10th APRU Doctoral Students Conference was held

July 6-10, 2009

The APRU is an association of 42 universities from 16 countries and regions of the Pacific Rim, and hosts a variety of conferences and symposiums throughout the year. The Doctoral Students Conference is one of these, with an aim to broaden participant insight and encourage cross-border interactions by providing the opportunity to learn about the research activities of many different fields of studies.

The momentous 10th annual conference was held during the week of Monday July 6 to Friday 10, at the Kyoto University Clock Tower Centennial Hall, and had a turnout of approximately 100 graduate students from 26 universities.

After listening to the welcoming words of President Hiroshi Matsumoto and attending the lecture on “understanding the chimpanzee mind through both field and laboratory research”, by Professor Tetsuro Matsuzawa, doctoral students engaged in group discussions held in the afternoon on the conference theme; “Promoting Originality and Diversity in Research”. This discussion continued on throughout the duration of the conference, to be concluded with a presentation contest on the final day.

Oral presentations were made by participating doctoral students on a wide array of research topics during the following three days. As a rare opportunity to exchange research information and intermingle with others from various cultures, social backgrounds as well as fields of expertise – participants commended the conference as “a stimulating experience” and a place where “diversity can lead to the discovery of more ideas or ways of looking at things”.

After the presentation sessions during the day, participants were invited to two afternoons of social programs. On day 2, the activities were cultural and included a chance to experience the Japanese tea ceremony at Seifuso, hosted by Kyoto university students; or a Japanese calligraphy lesson by the shodo club. On day 4, participants had the opportunity to visit the Kwasan Observatory, Disaster Prevention Research Institute or Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere. A reception was held on day 3, with a dance performance by the university Noh club – Kongohkai. It is hoped that the fusion of traditional Japanese culture and leading edge technologies will prove to be a catalyst for innovative research activities of the near future.

The final day closed off on a high note, with participants clapping along to Associate professor (Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, Field Science Education and Research Center of Kyoto University), Shin Kubota’s ‘Scarlet Medusa Chorus’ and promises made among students to reunite at the next conference.

Student sessions encouraged much discussion	Getting the tour at Kwasan Observatory
Experiencing the tea ceremony	Noh stage performance during the Reception Party
Group photo