Minister Sumio Mabuchi visits OIST

OIST P. C. President Sydney Brenner (far left) and OIST Graduate University President-elect Jonathan Dorfan (far right) greet the Minister.

Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs Mabuchi Sumio visited OIST on October 2, 2010.

During his one-hour visit, Minister Mabuchi was given an introduction to the facilities by Executive Director Dr. Robert Baughman and then taken on a tour of the OIST campus.  He also spoke with Dr. Kenji Doya, Principal Investigator of the Neural Computational Unit, and Dr. Jeff Wickens, Principal Investigator of the Neurobiology Research Unit. Both PIs gave presentations on their research.

OIST Executive Director Dr. Baughman explains the layout of the institute to Minister Mabuchi.

Dr. Doya explains the research being done by his unit.

Dr. Wickens introduces Minister Mabuchi to his research unit.

Minister Mabuchi then sat down for a meeting with OIST researchers, including Dr. Satoshi Mitarai, Independent New Investigator of the Marine Biophysics Unit, and Dr. Chuya Shinzato, researcher in the Marine Genomics Unit. Asked by Minister Mabuchi what made them decide to do research at OIST, Dr. Mitarai cited the cross-disciplinary research and the diversity of OIST researchers. Dr. Shinzato referred to what he called an exceptional research environment of OIST.

Dr. Mitarai and Dr. Shinzato talk over refreshments.

OIST Facilities & Construction Director John Dickison explains to Minister Mabuchi the current state and future plans for the OIST campus.

The Minister concluded his visit by posing for a photo with the OIST executives and researchers.

The OIST executives and researchers with Minister Mabuchi (center).