Bravo and best wishes to OIST’s graduating class of 2024!

Graduation is a significant milestone where students, accompanied by their family and peers, mark their hard-won success and reflect on the triumphs and challenges of their educational journey. On 25 May 2024, the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) held its sixth graduation ceremony, honoring the 29 graduates from 15 countries and regions in the graduating class of 2024. 

Keeping with tradition, the ceremony began with a Ryukyuan dance with sanshin accompaniments, performed by members of the OIST community. OIST President and CEO, Dr. Karin Markides, welcomed guests to the special occasion. “It is with immense pleasure and pride that we all come together today to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our 29 OIST graduates,” she said. “Graduate education is in many ways a personal development, building your character and resilience, in addition to all the skills you acquire in exploring new knowledge.”

The ceremony began with a traditional Ryukyuan dance with sanshin accompaniments, performed by members of the OIST community. 

The sixth OIST graduation ceremony honored 29 OIST PhD graduates from 15 countries and regions.

OIST President and CEO, Dr. Karin Markides, welcomed guests to OIST’s sixth graduation ceremony. 

Mr. Takekuni Ikeda, Okinawa Prefectural Vice Governor, read a congratulatory message on behalf of Okinawa Governor, Denny Tamaki: “As you leave OIST and embark on your own journeys, I hope that you will remember and cherish your bonds with colleagues from different backgrounds and the Okinawan spirit of embracing peace, and that you will contribute to world peace and sustainable development,” he said. 

Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Cabinet Office, Mr. Yuichiro Koga, encouraged the graduates to build networks that link Okinawa and Japan with the global community: “You are now ready to take flight from Okinawa out into the world. It is my heartfelt hope that you will act as bridges connecting the world to Okinawa and to Japan in the spirit of bankoku shinryo, or ‘bridge of nations’, which has been passed down over the centuries from the days of the Ryukyu Dynasty.” 

Mr. Takekuni Ikeda, Okinawa Prefectural Vice Governor, read a congratulatory message on behalf of Okinawa Governor, Denny Tamaki. 

Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Cabinet Office, Mr. Yuichiro Koga, encouraged the graduates to establish connections that link Okinawa and Japan with the global community. 

The commencement address was given by Prof. Reiko Kuroda, a Distinguished Professor at Chubu University and Professor Emerita at the University of Tokyo, known for her pioneering work in the field of chirality. Prof. Kuroda highlighted her special attachment to OIST, having served on the International Advisory Committee for its establishment from 2002 to 2004, and expressed her gratitude to the many people who supported her career. She gave special thanks to her parents for allowing her to attend university and pursue a PhD program at a time when only 7% and 2% of women, respectively, received tertiary education. 

“There is a need for highly educated people like you who bring critical skills like creativity, critical thinking, design thinking, empathy, adaptability, and communication. In other words, we need people with high intellectual and emotional intelligence,” she emphasized to the graduates. “When you run into some trouble, it may be a chance to jump into something new, more exciting, and beneficial to society.” 

The commencement speech was given by Prof. Reiko Kuroda, who is celebrated for her pioneering research in chirality and holds the titles of Distinguished Professor at Chubu University and Professor Emerita at the University of Tokyo. 

An honorary degree was presented to Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Prof. Torsten Wiesel, a founding member of OIST’s Board of Governors who served as the Co-chair for more than a decade. The occasion was particularly special because it took place during the same period as Prof. Wiesel’s 100th birthday celebrations. 

“By accepting this honor, I would also like to recognize several other key figures in the development of the university, who we are indebted to, all of whom are no longer with us: Sydney Brenner, the first President of OIST Promotion Corporation; Dr. Akito Arima, who co-chaired the Board with me; and Mr. Koji Omi, former Finance Minister of Japan. These three individuals were critical for the full realization of OIST and making the dream come true,” he highlighted. 

Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Prof. Torsten Wiesel, a founding member and Co-chair of OIST’s Board of Governors for over a decade, was awarded an honorary degree.

The conferment of degrees was presided by Prof. Thomas Busch, Dean of the Graduate School at OIST. “You have the power and the responsibility to make a significant impact, whether it’s in academia, in industry, or in any other field you choose. We are eagerly watching what comes next for you,” he said. 

The graduates received their certificates accompanied by a personalized video message from their supervisors and, frequently, unit members, who contributed their congratulatory messages, often adding a touch of humor that brought out laughter from the audience. 

In her video message, Prof. Keiko Kono extended her congratulations to her student, Dr. Kojiro Suda, noting his recent first author publication. 

The Peter Gruss Doctoral Dissertation Excellence Award for 2024, recognizing outstanding PhD thesis research, was awarded to Dr. Vivek Pareek, who conducted research at OIST’s Femtosecond Spectroscopy Unit, for his thesis titled “Unraveling the nature of excitons and their interactions through time-resolved photoemission and optical spectroscopy" under the supervision of Prof. Keshav Dani.

The award was presented by Provost Prof. Amy Shen, who explained the selection criteria: “Ultimately the decision came down to the impact of your work, which led to internationally recognized scientific breakthroughs, as shown by the many high impact journal publications –  more than 800 citations so far –  and also the awards you have received...” she stated. 

The Peter Gruss Doctoral Dissertation Excellence Award for 2024 was awarded to Dr. Vivek Pareek, who conducted research at OIST’s Femtosecond Spectroscopy Unit.

Prof. Franz Meitinger, head of the Cell Proliferation and Gene Editing Unit at OIST, was presented with the Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Award for 2024.

The graduating student speech was delivered by Dr. Anzhelika Koldaeva who spoke about some of the difficulties the students overcame: “We went through the pandemic which affected our research a lot, and us personally. And every single day we missed our friends and families who lived so far away from us. But fortunately, we were never alone on this journey. I would like to thank all the people who supported us along the way. My deepest gratitude to all OIST faculty and OIST Grad School. You taught us many valuable lessons and without you and your support, this journey wouldn’t have been possible.” 

Dr. Anzhelika Koldaeva gave the graduating student speech and thanked her fellow students for their support.

The auspicious event culminated with an outdoor reception where attendees mingled amidst the fine weather and delightful pan music.  

Following the ceremony, the graduates gathered at the reception to capture memorable moments commemorating their achievements. 

Guests engaged in lively conversations amidst fine weather and pan music at the graduation reception. 

The OIST community extends its warmest wishes to our 2024 graduates for a prosperous future. Their effort and commitment inspire us all, and we are eager to learn about their future achievements. Well done!  

To view more photos and video footage from the 2024 graduation ceremony, please access the graduation Flickr album and the official graduation 2024 webpage.