Visit to OIST by MEXT Minister Moriyama

On June 7, Dr. Masahito Moriyama, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, visited the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST).

OIST President and CEO Karin Markides and Secretary General Shigeharu Kato gave Minister Moriyama a tour of the OIST campus.

Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Masahito Moriyama (center), OIST President and CEO Dr. Karin Markides (left), and OIST Secretar Shigeharu Kato (right) on Minister’s visit to OIST on June 7, 2024.

During the campus tour, Minister Moriyama stopped by the Neural Computation Unit led by Professor Kenji Doya, who explained the research being conducted at the unit, which combines computational and robotics approaches with neurobiological approaches.

Prof. Doya, who is also the head of the MEXT's project for "Pioneering and Testing a Unified Theory of Prediction and Behavior," introduced the latest research being conducted by unit researchers and students with government support, and thanked the government for its support. He also discussed with the Minister the possibility of making an English version of the competitive research funding web page and application guidelines for foreign researchers conducting research in Japan available.

Professor Kenji Doya of the Neural Computation Unit (center right) explains his research to MEXT Minister Masahito Moriyama (center left), who visited OIST in 2024.

Minister Moriyama concluded his visit by signing his name in the honor book and saying, "This is my first visit to OIST. I hope that great research results will emerge from here.” He added his impressions in English and Japanese.