OIST’s Highlights of 2021

2021 was a year of groundbreaking research, individual achievements, and successful events. As it draws to a close, it’s time to reflect back on some of the highlights.

As 2021 draws to a close, it’s been another year of overcoming extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges, OIST’s researchers and students have published world-class research, received prestigious awards and worked with OIST staff to host exciting events. Below is a brief highlight reel, where we acknowledge some of the best institutional and individual achievements of the year.

Five research articles to read

This year, OIST’s news articles and press releases reached new readership highs. Below are some research articles published this year that drew the largest English-speaking audiences, spanning across the fields of science, from marine biology to condensed matter physics.

Five people to celebrate

From prestigious fellowships to hackathon success, OIST researchers and students have shined throughout 2021. Whilst the following is hardly an exhaustive list of the people who deserve to be celebrated, it highlights that OIST researchers, in every stage of their career, are being recognized both nationally and internationally.

Five hits in the media

OIST’s research has been reported in top-tier media outlets and specialist science magazines across the world. Below are some of the stories from OIST that generated the biggest media buzz, from the cute and charismatic clownfish to an in-depth exploration of what it means to be conscious.

Five successful events

Whilst meetings and celebrations online have now become the norm across Japan and the world, in 2021, OIST strived to host exciting events that considered safe social distancing guidelines. Staff from the Community Relations Section and the Graduate School jumped at the opportunity to learn new skills and work through any technical issues that emerged when they switched to an online setting. Below are five successful events that were held in 2021, in person, on zoom, or a mixture of both.

Five SDG stories you should read

With the launch of OIST’s Sustainable Development Goals initiative, OIST researchers and staff have dedicated their time to contributing to the different goals, from local outreach, to signing collaborative agreements, to designing wastewater management systems.