Kyoto University Regional Seminar (Ehime Seminar) and Social Gathering with Kyoto University Ehime Alumni (September 18, 2011)

Kyoto University Regional Seminar (Ehime Seminar) and Social Gathering with Kyoto University Ehime Alumni (September 18, 2011)

Since 1997, Kyoto University has held regional seminars throughout the country to share with the public its accumulated intellectual assets and achievements from current educational and research activities and to benefit society at large.

Subtitled “What is Life?: From a Viewpoint Connecting Materials and Cells,” the seminar in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture featured three lectures: “The Limitless Possibilities of Pluripotent Stem Cells (ES/iPS cells)” by Director Norio Nakatsuji from the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (Kyoto University [iCeMS]), “Observing the Movement of a Molecule with an Optical Microscope” by Professor Yoshie Harada, and “Cell-controlling Compounds” by Professor Motonari Uesugi. The seminar, whose venue was packed to capacity with 286 local people, including many young people such as high school students, ended on a successful note.

After the seminar, a social gathering was held with members of the Kyoto University Ehime Alumni. About fifty local alumni members attended the gathering together with President Hiroshi Matsumoto, Executive Vice-President Yuzo Ohnishi, the three lecturers (Director Nakatsuji, Professor Harada and Professor Uesugi), and other university staff members. Following a speech by Mr. Koichi Sato, the chairman of Kyoto University Ehime Alumni (1957 graduate from the Faculty of Agriculture), President Matsumoto proposed a toast to open a lively exchange. At the end, all the attendees sang Biwako Shuko no Uta, followed by closing words from Executive Vice-President Ohnishi, which concluded the gathering in a joyful mood.


From left, speech by President Matsumoto (during the lecture session), lectures by Director Nakatsuji, Professor Harada and Professor Uesugi

Venue

From left, speech by Chairman Sato, speech and toast by President Matsumoto, and closing remarks by Executive Vice-President Ohnishi at the social gathering

Participants singing Biwako Shuko no Uta