Reflecting on 2024: challenging new stages

The year 2024 was a year of steady growth for the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST). As research activities increase, the number of papers published this year has exceeded 400, and OIST’s research results are attracting more attention both in Japan and abroad.

OIST has also continued to collaborate actively with companies and academic institutions, with ten new memorandums of understanding (MOUs) being signed during 2024, four with academic institutions and six with companies. By cooperating with diverse partners, OIST is expanding the possibilities for implementing research and creating new joint research projects. 

OIST actively promotes the social implementation of research outcomes through patent filings and technology transfers. 14 new inventions have been officially disclosed this year, offering not only academic value but also potential for industrial applications.

In addition, OIST Coral Project achieved 240% of its crowdfunding goal, becoming a symbol of the deepening ties with the local community and supporters. 

Students and staff from all over the world continue to join OIST, with the number of countries and regions represented growing year by year – and this year is no different, with new members joining the community, adding to the international character and diversity of our campus. The meeting of the minds with different backgrounds and perspectives fosters a more innovative and dynamic research environment. 

5 NOTABLE MEMBERS OF THE OIST COMMUNITY IN 2024

OIST's community reached remarkable milestones in 2024, with achievements spanning from globally recognized research to impactful local initiatives. Our scientists and staff garnered prestigious awards and breakthrough funding, while fostering the next generation of researchers. These accomplishments highlight OIST's growing impact in both global science and Okinawan development. Here is just a small selection:

1. Dr. Shizuka Shimabukuro received the MEXT Award for Science and Technology.
   A native of Naha City, Dr. Shimabukuro received the award in the Science and Technology Promotion Category. She earned this prestigious recognition for developing an innovative support program for parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

2. Dr. Luis Katsuya Ono is named in Clarivate's Highly Cited Researchers list.
   Dr. Ono achieved the remarkable distinction of being named in Clarivate's Highly Cited Researchers list for the fifth straight year (2020-2024). With over 14,500 citations as of November 2024, his research continues to shape the advancement of metal halide perovskite materials and solar cell technology. 

3. OIST's Grant Section achieved exceptional funding outcomes this year.
   The team secured major awards including the ASPIRE Grant (Principal Investigator: Prof. Fyodor Kondrashov), HFSP Grant (Principal Investigator: Prof. Filip Husnik), and a historic number of Kakenhi grants. Beyond funding success, the section also organized the milestone 10th RMAN-J Annual Conference at OIST.

4. Doctoral student Sutashu Tomonaga was featured in Asahi Shimbun GLOBE+ 
   Sutashu Tomonaga, who served as the Chair of the Student Council, created multiple opportunities for students and community members to directly engage with and exchange ideas with members of the OIST Board of Governors. He was also featured in the Asahi Shimbun GLOBE+ series “Scientists Without Borders in Churashima”, highlighting his transformation from a young Okinawan student first inspired by an OIST campus visit, to his current role as an innovative researcher in mental health and machine learning. Read the English version of the article here. 

5. Dr. Tomoyuki Mano, a researcher of octopus and squid, captivates audiences of all ages 
   Dr. Tomoyuki Mano, a researcher at the Computational Neuroethology Unit, captivated a wide audience with his lecture on the mysteries of octopuses and squids during a community event for children held on Marine Day. His clear and engaging explanations was met with great enthusiasm from the attendees. Dr. Mano has also appeared on the popular Japanese TV show “Nandakore!? Mystery”, where his quest to find a giant squid was featured. His deep scientific insight, combined with the spirit of adventure, captured viewers and won the hearts of many. 

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR RESEARCH PRESS RELEASES IN ENGLISH IN 2024

OIST is engaged in both fundamental sciences exploring the basic nature of the universe and applied research into concrete solutions. This year, the most popular press releases from OIST highlight how these two strands of research converge to improve tchnology, pave the way for treating debilitating diseases, and reveal new insights into our world: 

1. Innovative EUV lithography technology dramatically increases energy efficiency and reduces capital cost of semiconductor manufacturing 
   The new design reduces the power requirement of this crucial machine by a factor of ten, as well as drastically simplifying the design, reducing installation and maintenance costs of the production of semiconductors which are vital to our modern society. 

2. Innovative magnetic levitation: New material offers potential for unlocking gravity-free technology 
   By transforming graphite into an electrical insulator, and actively countering motional energy, researchers from the Quantum Machines Unit have created a levitating system that could outperform even the most sensitive atomic gravimeters to date, as well be used in a variety of other applications.  

3. Damage to synapses caused by Alzheimer’s disease reversed 
   Alzheimer’s is a global problem, and while we’re still far from a definitive cure, the research team formerly headed by Professor Emeritus Takahashi have made significant progress in minimizing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s in mice treated at an early stage. The team, still at OIST, are continuing their work to perfect the treatment for human trials. 

4. Ants perform emergency medical care in the field 
   Ant societies are some of the most complex found in nature, only rivalled by our own. This recent study found that Florida carpenter ants have an innate ability to diagnose wounds, check for infection, and treat it over long periods of time, either via amputation or extensive wound cleaning. 

5. Memories of mitosis: Molecular mechanism that detects defects during cell division could aid cancer treatment 
   All our cells have a Mitotic Stopwatch Complex that arrest or kill cells that are significantly delayed during mitosis due to defects. Researchers found that this stopwatch is carried across generations, serving as a preventative measure against the spread of defects, and by elucidating the complex, they hope to contribute to anti-mitotic treatments of certain cancers.

These are the top 5 most read research article in Japanese:  

1. Innovative magnetic levitation: New material offers potential for unlocking gravity-free technology 

2. Innovative EUV lithography technology dramatically increases energy efficiency and reduces capital cost of semiconductor manufacturing 

3. How does oxygen depletion disrupt memory formation in the brain? 

4. Damage to cell membranes causes cell aging 

5. Damage to synapses caused by Alzheimer’s disease reversed

 5 MEMORABLE EVENTS AT OIST IN 2024

At OIST, 2024 was a year where we celebrated time-honored traditions alongside new beginnings, shared our passion for science, and got inspired by new collaborations with artists:

1. Celebrating 20 years of Computational Neuroscience Course.
   With participants from around the world, the computational neuroscience summer school brought together talented researchers to work intensely on their projects and marked its 20th anniversary in 2024.  

2. J-PEAKS kickoff symposium.
   In July this year, OIST was excited to announce the Nexus Strategy made possible by being part of the J-PEAKS Project, helping the university to strengthen its excellence, innovation, and local-to-global contribution.

3. Community Events: From Dr. Kurima's visit to Miyako Island High School, where he spoke about career paths in higher education and research, to the 12th annual SCORE! presentation competition and another wonder-filled Marine Day, under the motto "Exploring Secrets of Cephalopods", 2024 was a year filled with fascinating events. 

4. KEIO Summer School.
   OIST Researchers welcomed Keio University medical students for an international research summer camp, where the participants gained hands-on experience in research and expanded their network in a multicultural environment.  

5. Art meets Science: The BRIDGE Network—an informal platform of scientific institutions, including OIST, engaged in world-class research and PhD training—hosted a photo exhibition titled “HUMAN-MODEL-WORLD: A Collection of Scientific Images” at the United Nations University. At one point, we also held a talk event entitled “Science+Art: Creatively Communicating Research” to explore the synergies between science and art from the perspective of science communication. On the OIST campus, we welcomed members of the Nomura School of Ryukyuan Classical music for a performance and the artist Sputniko! with her exhibition “Coral Colors” featuring generative art pieces using scientific data of changing sea temperatures. Furthermore, OIST also had the pleasure to show artwork created by students at the Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts during this year’s CYCLE Exhibition.  

5 ARTICLES THAT HEADLINES IN 2024

Throughout the year, OIST research has generated a lot of excitement in international media, being brought in local channels, national broadcasters, and multinational outlets. Here are a few notable mentions from the year:

• ORF: Der Klang des Dschungels (German, ’The Sound of the Jungles’) 
  The story of OKEON was told over a 4-part radio series on the Austrian national radio channel Ö1.

• Forbes: Physicists studied how dendritic paintings are formed  
  The science of the dendritic paintings of Akiko Nakayama, featuring researchers from the Mechanics and Materials Unit.

• Newsweek: Alzheimer's Symptoms Reversed With New Treatment 
  By inhibiting tau-dynamin interactions, the researchers from the former Cellular and Molecular Synaptic Function Unit successfully restored the cognitive function of transgenic mice. 

• Smithsonian Magazine: Clownfish Can 'Count' Stripes on Other Fish to Identify Intruders, Study Suggests 
  The Marine Eco-Evo-Devo Unit published a study describing the surprising ability of clown anemonefish to count the number of vertical bars on fish to determine their threat level. 

• India Today: How lack of oxygen affects the formation of memory in the brain 
  Members of the former Cellular and Molecular Function Unit and from Optical Neuroimaging Unit investigated how strokes may induce memory loss. 

OIST also received widespread coverage in Japanese media. Here are 5 notable examples, all in Japanese: 

• TBS (Nationwide TV station): A special Children's Day program introduced OIST's research related to environmental issues.  

• NewsPicks (Business online news): The cutting edge of world-leading “OIST” research.
  Takafumi Horie, also known as “Horiemon”, visited EF Polymer and OIST campus. 

• Nihon TV (Nationwide TV station): Waratte Koraete! Good for Planet Special
  Mari Sekine and Taichi Masu visited OIST and followed four students. 

• Fuji Television Network (Nationwide TV station): Nandakore Mystery: Interviews at a University that the World is Watching Now What mysteries do scientists usually wonder about?  

• The Nikkei (Nationwide newspaper): OIST's New Strategy: Expanding Collaboration to Establish Strength - Dr. Karin Markides, President of the OIST