WHEN: July 28th (Friday), 2006 5:00pm – 7:30pm
LOCATION: Hotel Durant, University Room
2600 Durant Avenue, Berkeley, California

On 28 July, the JSPS San Francisco Office held a “Gathering of JSPS Japanese Fellows” in Berkeley, California. Its purpose was to promote trans-disciplinary exchange among Japanese researchers working in the US and to deepen a sense of colleagueship while facilitating network building among them. San Francisco Office had this kind of gathering in 2004 for the first time. This, the fifth such gathering organized by the Office, brought together 27 Japanese researchers. Some were fellows under JSPS’s “Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research Abroad” and “Research Fellowships for Young Scientists” programs and others were invited Japanese scientists doing research in the US.

The meeting began with remarks by San Francisco Office director Dr. Seishi Takeda. After a toast, time was given to allow the participants to engage in free conversation. The casual atmosphere made it easy for them to relax and get to know each other. The participants were then asked to introduce themselves and their research work. This added impetus to the conversation among them on such subjects as where and what they had researched and their experiences of living in the US and other countries. Following this time slot, talks were given by Prof. Katsumori Matsushima, The University of Tokyo, and Prof. Toshihiko Nishimura, Deputy Director, Tohoku University’s US Office, on the significance of doing research overseas and the importance of networking with Japanese colleagues. The young Japanese researchers were both motivated and encouraged by these messages based on the professors’ wealth of personal experience.

After Dr. Takeda closed the gathering with remarks, the participants continued lively talking, meeting the expectation of developing networks and contacts between the future researchers.