Ethological dynamics in diorama environmentsGrant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A)
NEWS
- 2025.5.2
May 1-2, 2025, Taiwan-Japan International Workshop on Applied Mathematics between Department of Applied Mathematics, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan, and Research Center of Mathematics for Social Creativity, Research Institute for Electronic Science, and Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, was held at Hokkaido University, and co-organized by our research area. Associate Professor Yukinori Nishigami of Group B01-1 and Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki of Group B02-1 participated.
- 2025.3.30
On 30th March, 2025, Professor T. Nakagaki of the planned group B02-1 gave a lecture titled ‘Observing Amoeba and Reflecting on Ourselves’ at a symposium organized by NPO 'Regional Revitalization and Individualized Medical Care', entitled ‘Educational Reform and Human Resource Development for the Revitalization of Japan.’ He introduced the research conducted in the research project ‘Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments. Following the lecture, he participated in a panel discussion with other speakers (Mr. Ken Terawaki and Mr. Kihei Maekawa).
飛松塾 in 西条 シンポジウム& JAZZ ライブ
「日本再興に向けた若手人財育成と教育改革」日時： 3月30日（日）午後１時から
場所： 歓喜庵・別館ホール
主催者：石川智久 飛松五男午後 1:00～2:00
中垣俊之（北海道大学電子科学研究所・教授）
「アメーバのふり見て我がふり思う」午後 2:15～3:15
寺脇研（京都造形芸術大学・教授）
「生涯にわたって学び続ける」午後 3:15～4:15
前川喜平（現代教育行政研究会・代表）
「学ぶことは人間の自由だ」午後 4:15～5:00
総合討論・パネルディスカッション
- 2025.3.25
Prof. Ishikawa and Prof. Kikuchi of the General Group and Prof. Omori of the Publicly Offered Group have discovered an optimised pump function in the oldest multicellular animal, the sponge.
Press release :
https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/japanese/2025/03/press20240325-04-sponge.htmlPaper website :
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2421296122 - 2025.3.24
On 23–24 March 2025, we co-hosted the 4th ‘Self-Organisation Seminar in Kanazawa,’ featuring guest lectures by Prof. Ken Sekimoto (University of Paris 7) and Prof. Junichi Tadami (Yokohama National University), along with a presentation by Associate Prof. Kenta Ishimoto from our project B01-2 group, entitled ‘Theory of Odd Elasticity of Cell Movement.’ A discussion on cellular ethological dynamics was conducted. Participants included Prof.r Takuji Ishikawa (B01-1 Group), Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki (B02-1 Group), Prof. Makoto Ima (B02-2 Group), Prof. Yoshimi Tanaka (B02-1 Group), and Prof. Katsuhiko Sato (B02-1 Group).
Self-Organisation Seminar in Kanazawa
https://scheme.hn/s-org/ - 2025.3.22-23
Associate Professor Kenji Kikuchi (Team A02-2) participated as a lecturer in the 19th Transgrade Practical Course "Stereomicroscope Observation of Quail Embryos" organized by Associate Professor Keiko Numayama of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, and conducted outreach activities for a total of 36 people, including junior and senior high school students and teachers.
- 2025.3.20-21
The 7th Area Plenary Meeting was held at Tohoku University.
There were 80 in-person participants and 10 online participants.
Additionally, one academic investigator and four evaluation team members attended to provide their comments.
- 2025.3.21
Professor Yoshitaka Nishiyama in the Planned Research group and his colleagues, in collaboration with Fisheries Technology Institute, have clarified the roles of photosynthesis in the production of extracellular reactive oxygen species, which are associated with fish mortality, in noxious red-tide-forming algae. The uncovered mechanism is expected to contribute to the development of methods that assess the fish-killing activity of the noxious red tides, as well as to the understanding of the mechanism of their formation in the sea.
Science Newspaper (18 Oct, 2024)
The photosynthetic capacity of harmful red tide plankton is maintained by the release of reactive oxygen species.
https://park.saitama-u.ac.jp/~kankyo/nishiyama/pdf/kagakushinbun.pdfJST Science Japan （21 Nov, 2024）
Harmful red-tide-forming plankton release reactive oxygen species to maintain photosynthesis capacity — One step toward understanding toxicity to fish.
https://sj.jst.go.jp/news/202411/n1121-01k.html - 2025.03.19
Assistant Professor Kogiku Shiba and Professor Kazuo Inaba (Team A01-2) will appear on BS Fuji program "Galileo X" and their research on sperm and cilia.
【Program name】
Galileo X No. 334
https://www.bsfuji.tv/galileox/pub/【Date and Time】
Sunday, March 23, 2025 08:28-09:00
[Rerun]: Sunday, March 30, 2025 08:28-09:00【Broadcasting Station】
BS Fuji「X」
https://x.com/galileo_wac/status/1898571061186420937?s=53 - 2025.3.14 Associate Professor Kenji Kikuchi (Team A02-2) participated as a speaker in the Tohoku University-QST Young Researchers Workshop on Nano-Terrace Utilization, and conducted outreach activities to a total of about 100 people, including faculty members, researchers, and students from Tohoku University and the National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology.
- 2025.2.26
On 26 February 2025, Associate Professor Yukinori Nishigami (group B01-1) introduced his research, ‘Unravelling the behaviour of protists using physics and mathematics #1: Organisms that are neither animals nor plants?! Challenging the characterization of cell behaviors in diverse protists,’ in Hokkaido University's research public relations media, Research Times.
Hokkaido University's research public relations media, Research Times
https://www.hokudai.ac.jp/researchtimes/2025/02/-1.html - 2025.2.22-23
Associate Professor Kenji Kikuchi (Team A02-2) participated as a lecturer in the 18th Transgrade Practical Course "Fluorescence and Polarizing Microscope Assembly Training" organized by Associate Professor Keiko Numayama of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, and conducted outreach activities for a total of 25 people, including junior and senior high school students and teachers.
- 2025.02.21 From 19 to 21 February 2025, Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Group B02-1), in collaboration with Prof. Makoto Iima (Group B02-2), delivered a lecture on the research topic ‘ Behavior of slime molds in the complex environment’ at Spring School for Theoretical Biology 2025, targeting undergraduate and graduate students. This school was organized and operated by students with the support of Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Area (A) projects titled ‘Construction Methods of the “Body” Varying with Materials’ and ‘Mathematical Studies to Elucidate 3D Morphogenesis Driven by Topological Defects.’
- 2025.2.20
【March 20-21, 2025】
The 7th Area Meeting will be held in Sendai.
【Date】
Thursday, March 20, 2025 9:50-19:30 (Doors open 9:00)
Friday, March 21, 2025 9:30-16:00 (Doors open 9:00)【location】
Tohoku University Katahira Campus Katahira Sakura Hall【Program】
Please refer to the Japanese page
- 2025.1.6-7 On January 6-7th, 2025, The Joint Meeting on Biological Motility 2025 co-hosted by our research area was held at GRANSHIP Shizuoka Convention & Arts Centre.
- 2024.12.8
On December 8, 2024, Professor Iima (Hiroshima University) of Group B02-2 gave an invited lecture at the research conference Dynamics Days Sapporo 2024.
On December 8, 2024, Professor Iima (Hiroshima University) from Group B02-2 gave an invited lecture on individual and collective movement of Euglena at the research conference Dynamics Days Sapporo 2024.
- 2024.11.30
Associate Professor Kenta Ishimoto (Team B01-2) gave a public lecture for high school students in “JST Math Caravan at Chubu University”.
JST Math Caravan at Chubu University
https://www.cuaes.jp/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Math-Caravan-at-Chubu-u.pdf - 2024.11.20 On 20 November 2024, Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki (group B02-1) introduced some of his thoughts on his research in an article titled ‘Will Japanese Scientists Continue to Win Ig Nobel Prizes?’ published in the December 2024 issue of Wedge, a business opinion magazine distributed on the Green Cars of the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen. A similar article was also published on Wedge ONLINE.
- 2024.11.8 On November 8th, 2024, the workshop on 3D sperm helical swimming analysis was held at Hirosaki University.
- 2024.11.4
Associate Professor Kenta Ishimoto (Team B01-2) gave an online public lecture for high school students as a part of a seminar series by The Japan Science Society.
Science Seminar
https://www.jss.or.jp/fukyu/seminar/seminar03.html
- 2024.10.26
On October 26, 2024, Professor T. Nakagaki, a member of General Group, gave a lecture on “Behavioral Proto-intelligence Explored in the Study of Protist Behavior” at the 43rd Life Science Symposium “Exploring Primitive Sensation and Intelligence” held at Toho University Narashino Campus.
Toho University Event information
https://www.toho-u.ac.jp/phar/event/43th_seimeikagaku.html
- 2024.10.25
On October 25th, 2024, the joint workshop with the Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A) “散乱透視学" was held at the University of Electro-Communications.
The 2nd Diorama Behavioral Dynamics and Scattering Perspective Joint Workshop
https://sites.google.com/nips.ac.jp/2nd-georama-sc-joint - 2024.10.16
In August 2024, Professor Nakagaki (B02-1) appeared on the YouTube channel “Yuru SEITAIGAKU Radio (chill ecology radio)” to introduce the behavior of protozoa and Cellular Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments.
1. Slime molds solve a maze
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4EIARjpODo2. Leave the design of railway networks to slime molds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUamA8XOQN8&t=103s3. What is “Cellular Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments”?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csp7HiQRbII - 2024.10.11
On October 11, 2024, we held a Diorama Young People's Study Group in Hiroshima.
At the study session, we had lectures from Professor Keita Kamino (Academia Sinica) and Professor Masahiro Ueda (Osaka University).
Young researchers also gave poster presentations.
- 2024.10.11 Prof. Takuji Ishikawa (Team B01-1) was elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society
- 2024.10.10
Assistant Professor Mami Nomura (Yamagata University), a member of the Publicly Offered Research, received the 6th Materials and Devices Joint Research Award in 2023. This research was a joint research project with Associate Professor Yukinori Nishigami (Hokkaido University, at the time of the award, Assistant Professor) of Planned Research B01-1.
Report 2023, Network Joint Research Center for Materials and Devices
https://five-star.sanken.osaka-u.ac.jp/results/report/2023/?pNo=24 - 2024.10.8
On November 12th, 2024, associate Professor Yu Fukasawa will present his research on intelligent behavior in fungal mycelia. The presentation will be held in a science café format at "Bio-Life Salon (生きものサロン)" (organized by Professor Fujio Tsumori) at Kyushu University.
- 2024.10.4 Professor Ken-ichi Wakabayashi in the Publicly Offered Research group and his colleague found a link between changes in the regulatory mechanisms of ciliary motility in Volvocales algae with the evolution of multicellularity and an increase in Reynolds.
- 2024.9.26
Professor Yoshitaka Nishiyama in the Planned Research group A01-1 and his colleagues, in collaboration with Fisheries Technology Institute, have clarified the roles of photosynthesis in the production of extracellular reactive oxygen species, which are associated with fish mortality, in noxious red-tide-forming algae. The uncovered mechanism is expected to contribute to the development of methods that assess the fish-killing activity of the noxious red tides, as well as to the understanding of the mechanism of their formation in the sea.
Published in Harmful Algae
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568988324001458Press release of the research from:
Saitama University
https://www.saitama-u.ac.jp/topics_archives/202409261400.htmlJapan Fisheries Research and Education Agency
https://www.fra.go.jp/home/kenkyushokai/press/pr2024/20240926_akashio.html - 2024.9.26
The 6th Area Plenary Meeting was held at Hokkaido University.
There were 91 in-person participants and 11 online participants.
Additionally, two academic investigators and five evaluation team members attended to provide their comments.
- 2024.9.24
The exhibition "ALL ROADS LEAD TO BIG CITIES," showcasing the research of Associate Professor Takaaki Aoki of the publicly offered group, had started at the "Shikon Shosai-kan" on the Hikone campus of Shiga University from September 3 to November 29, 2024. This event was reported by Chunichi Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun.
Chunichi Shimbun newspaper (September 18, 2024)
"Exploring Urban Landscapes through Mobility Data – Exhibition by Shiga University’s Associate Professor Aoki in Hikone"Asahi Shimbun newspaper (September 22, 2024)
"Researching Urban Images from Flow Data of Commuting, Shopping, and Migration – Exhibition at Shiga University"
https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASS9P4G6YS9PPTJB002M.html - 2024.9.17
Associate Professor Yu Fukasawa and his colleagues published a paper suggesting that fungal mycelia can recognize difference in spatial patterns.
These results bring us closer to the intelligent behavior of fungal mycelium.published in Fungal Ecology
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1754504824000588 - 2024.9.12
On September 12th 2024, from 9:20 to 18:00, we held an international workshop entitled “Behavior and physiology of protists -experiments and models-” at the Sorbonne University (Paris, France) in collaboration with Professor Romain Brette (Sorbonne University).
From the Publicly Offered Group, Professor Takashi Tominaga, and from the Planned Group, Professor Manabu Hori, Professor Katsuhiko Sato, and Professor T. Nakagaki gave presentations.
- 2024.8.23
On August 23rd 2024, from 14:00 to 17:00, at the Tsukuba University Tokyo Campus, we held a discussion with Professor Ritsu Kamiya (Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo, Cell Biology) on the relationship between cell biology and mathematical modeling in the study of cell movement and behavior. The participants in the discussion were Drs. K. Shiba (A01-1), K. Shinohara (A02-1), K. Kikuchi (A02-2), M. Iima (B02-2), and T. Nakagaki (B02-1).
- 2024.8.16
【September 20-21, 2024】
The 6th Area Meeting will be held.【Date】
Friday, September 20, 2024 9:00-20:00 (Doors open 8:30)
Saturday, September 21, 2024 9:30-12:00 (Doors open 9:00)【location】
Clark Memorial Student Center【Program】
Please refer to the Japanese page
- 2024.8.8
Professor Makoto Iima (Team A02-2) conducted outreach activities for high school students at the Open Lab. held at the Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University.
- 2024.8.2
Prof. Kazuo Inaba (Team A01-2) conducted outreach activities in his lecture for high school students at Shimoda marine research center, University of Tsukuba.
- 2024.7.27
Associate Professor Hironori Ueno (Group B01-1) introduced the field of "Ethological dynamics in diorama environments" in the university collaboration course "Explore the world of micro-organisms!".
[Couse Title] Explore the world of micro-organisms!
[Date] Saturday, July 27, 2024, 14:30-16:00
[Place] Komaki City "Learning Creation Center Training room"
- 2024.7.26
Associate Professor Hironori Ueno (Group B01-1) introduced the field of "Ethological dynamics in diorama environments" in the university collaboration course "Knowledge Exploration Course".
[Couse Title] Knowledge Exploration Course
[Date] Friday, July 26, 2024, 13:00-16:30
[Place] Aichi University of Education
- 2024.7.16
Associate Professor Yu Fukasawa and his colleagues found that fungal mycelium may transmit information about the location of resources throughout the mycelium using electrical signals.
These results bring us closer to elucidating the mechanism behind the intelligent behavior of mycelium.published in Scientific Reports
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-66223-6 - 2024.7.5
Prof. Daisuke Takagi of the University of Hawaii visited Prof. Ishikawa's lab in Planned Research Group B01-1.
- 2024.6.24
Associate Professor Yu Fukasawa and his colleagues found that fungal mycelia utilize multiple resources more efficiently when the resources were connected by mycelial network while the resource use efficiency was reduced when the network was disrupted. This result shed light on the reason why fungal mycelia develop large networking body.
published in Fungal Ecology
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1754504824000333Press release of the research (Tohoku Univ.)
https://www.agri.tohoku.ac.jp/jp/news/20240624press-network/
https://www.agri.tohoku.ac.jp/jp/highlights/20240624press-network/ - 2024.5.10
On May 10th, "Experimental Medicine Supplement: Practical Textbook for Imaging & Image Analysis to Acquire Correct Results" (Yodosha Co., Ltd.), which was written by lecturers of " Optical Microscopy Principle Training Course" cosponsored by Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments, was published. Dr. Atsushi Taniguchi (Group B02-1) wrote sections on microscope optical principle, various observation methods, and a part of appendix.
Experimental Medicine Supplement: Practical Textbook for Imaging & Image Analysis to Acquire Correct Results
https://www.yodosha.co.jp/jikkenigaku/book/9784758122719/ - 2024.6.7
On June 7, 2024, Associate Professor Takaaki Aoki of the publicly offered group gave a gallery talk at the exhibition "ALL ROADS LEAD TO BIG CITIES" (June 3-November 29, 2024) at the Shiga University Institute of Economics and Business Administration "Shigadai Research Material Exhibition Corner. The event was reported in the Chunichi Shimbun newspaper.
Chunichi Shimbun newspaper
https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/909843 - 2024.6.4
The 27th General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held in University of the Ryukyu, Sesoko Station (Okinawa).
- 2024.5.28-29
A collective movement experiment using red tide algae in a diorama environment was conducted at the Higashi-Hiroshima Campus of Hiroshima University on May 28-29, 2024.
The Diorama Behavior Team (A01-1)'s Chief Researcher Tomoyuki Shikata and Term-appointed Researcher Ryoko Yano (NISA) visited the Higashi-Hiroshima campus of Hiroshima University and conducted a collective movement experiment in a diorama environment using red tide algae with the Algorithm Evaluation Team (B02-2)'s Professor Makoto Iima and Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Dr. Yamashita (Hiroshima University). They also discussed the mathematical model of red tide.
- 2024.5.29 A short video introducing the research project has been added to the FY2022 Publicly Offered Research Page.
- 2024.5.27
Publicly Offered Group Associate Prof. Takaaki Aoki will hold a workshop "Mathematical and Geographical Modelling environmental humanities in RIMS 2024" (June 3~4, 2024) at the Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University. In this series of workshops, comparative studies between the movement of protists such as slime molds and the dynamics of human society have also been discussed.
Mathematical and Geographical Modelling environmental humanities in RIMS 2024
https://takaakiaokiwork.github.io/Mathgeomodel/2024/06/03/RIMS2024.html - 2024.5.27
Publicly Offered Group Associate Professor Takaaki Aoki will exhibit his research in the exhibition "ALL ROADS LEAD TO BIG CITIES" (June 3 - November 29, 2024) at the Shiga University Institute of Economics and Business Administration "Shigadai Research Material Exhibition Corner".
Phase 1: In what kind of places do people gather and live? -Millennium Simulation of Streets and Roads- (June 3 - August 29, 2024)
Phase 2: The urban landscape through human flows - from daily commuting and shopping behavior to moving and migration - (September 2 - November 29)
The simulation of the co-development of cities and roads, inspired by the adaptive network formation of slime molds, will be introduced. Gallery talks by Professor Aoki will also be held on Tuesday, June 11 and Tuesday, July 9.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO BIG CITIES
https://www.econ.shiga-u.ac.jp/ebrisk/2020/Collections/folder2708/ARLTBC.html - 2024.5.27
Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki of Group B02-1 talked with Dr. Masanao Yamaoka, who launched the innovative research on CMOS annealing computation at Hitachi, at the web media Linking Society, part of the Hitachi Group's Social Innovation Project to solve social issues. Discussion was made on the significance of mathematical modeling of protist behavior in order to extract autonomous de-centralized algorithms of prototype of intelligent behavior and (2) the future expansion of Hitachi’s new concept of computing.
[Vol. 1] Mathematical Models Have Depth Beyond Words (April 24, 2024)
https://linkingsociety.hitachi.co.jp/_ct/17695118[Vol. 2] Reimagining Human Social Activities with Mathematical Models (May 08, 2024)
https://linkingsociety.hitachi.co.jp/_ct/17695120[Vol. 3]Computers of the Future Will Require a Balance Between "Roughness" and "Precision" (May 15, 2024)
https://linkingsociety.hitachi.co.jp/_ct/17695121 - 2024.5.15
Professor Nobuhiko Suematsu (Meiji University), a research collaborator of Team B02-2, will give an invited lecture on ``Convection patterns created by photosynthetic microorganisms in response to light fields'' at the session ``Kitchen Earth Science: Experiments that generate diverse outcomes'' at the JpGU Meeting 2024.
JpGU Meeting 2024
https://www.jpgu.org/meeting_e2024/sessionlist_en/detail/O-07.htmlSession Detail
https://www.jpgu-member.org/proposal/session/invited/author/ja/ - 2024.5.14
Associate professor Masaya Morita in the Planned Research group A01-1 and his colleagues reported in the coral Acropora digitifera sperm that substrates in protein kinase A leading to flagellar motility initiation, a prerequisite for fertilization, are common among animals.
Those coding sequences (CDs) are under positive selection with a conserving phosphorylation motif. This result indicates that PKA signal transduction has been conserved, but the substrate for flagellar motility initiation changes this function due to adaptive evolution during speciation; this implies flagellar motility regulation and features might have changed to adapt to their reproduction, such as synchronous spawning in the coral Acropora.
Published in the Journal of Molecular Evolution
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00239-024-10168-xPress release of the research (University of the Ryukyus)
https://www.u-ryukyu.ac.jp/news/55763/ - 2024.4.22
Associate professor Masaya Morita in the Planned Research group A01-2 and his colleagues reported that the tabular reef-building coral Acropora hyacinthus group speciated, accompanied by the establishment of reproductive isolation supported by adaptive gene evolution.
These findings show that these species can be classified from morphologies and may contribute to the conservation of corals, which are now taxonomically revised.
Published in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790324000551?via%3DihubPress release of the research (University of the Ryukyus)
https://www.u-ryukyu.ac.jp/news/54997/ - 2024.4.18
Professor Kazuo Inaba (Team A01-2) appeared on NHK E-TV's "Living Things Up! Super Micro Hunter - The Secret of Hair that Supports Life".
Using a microscope equipped with an 8K camera, he and the children observed sea urchin larvae, comb jellyfish, plankton, and more.[Program name]
Living things up! Ultra-micro hunter ~ The secret of "hair" that supports life ~[Date and time]
Friday, March 29, 2024 9:00-9:30
[Rebroadcast]: April 29, 2024 (Monday) 19:00-19:30[Broadcaster]
NHK ETV
https://x.com/nhk_Etele/status/1773183227940729050 - 2024.4.11-12
April 11-12, 2024. The Hokudai-NYCU Joint Workshop on Applied Mathematics between Department of Applied Mathematics, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan, and Research Center of Mathematics for Social Creativity, Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, was held (at NYCU, Taiwan), and co-organized by our research area.
Assistant Professor Yukinori Nishigami of Group B01-1 and Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki of Group B02-1 participated and presented their results.
- 2024.4.12
Bimonthly series on the ethological dynamics in diorama environments has started in the UP magazine.
The April issue includes the column 'A story of intelligence that begins from a cell' by Prof. Nakagaki, the area representative.The University of Tokyo Press "UP magazine"
https://www.utp.or.jp/up/ - 2024.3.26
Professor Yoshitaka Nishiyama in the Planned Research group A01-1 and his colleagues have clarified a new mechanism for the response of photosynthesis to strong light in a cyanobacterium.
Genetic manipulation of the mechanism in the cyanobacterium enhanced the tolerance of photosynthesis to strong light and provided a new strategy for production of biofuels and high-value materials in microalgae under harsh environments.
Published in The Plant Journal
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tpj.16551Press release of the research (Saitama Univ.)
https://www.saitama-u.ac.jp/topics_archives/2023/2023-1121-1352-16.html - 2024.3.25
On March 25, 2024, Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki of Group B02-1 gave a lecture entitled "Exploring the way of life of protists: “Cellular ethological dynamics in diorama environments" at the Industry-Academia-Government Academic Exchange Forum of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Bioscience and Biotechnology (100th Anniversary Meeting) and introduced research concepts in this field.
Industry-Academia-Government Academic Exchange Forum of the 2024
https://www.jsbba.or.jp/2024/program/sanwaka.html - 2024.3.23-24
Associate Professor Kenji Kikuchi (Team A02-2) participated as a lecturer in the 15th Transgrade Practical Course "Stereomicroscopic Observation of Quail Embryos" hosted by Associate Professor Keiko Numayama of Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering. We conducted outreach activities to 45 people.
Representative Nakagaki, Professor Sato (Team B02-1), and Mr. Echigoya (Nakagaki Lab) also participated.
- 2024.3.21
The 5th Area Plenary Meeting was held at Tohoku University.
There were 68 in-person participants and 8 online participants.
Two academic investigators and four evaluation team members were also in attendance to give their comments.
- 2024.3.1・3.8 Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki of Group B02-1, in cooperation with Assistant Professor Yukinori Nishigami of Group B01-1, introduced the ecology and smart behavior of protists to the public at the Sapporo Citizen's College 2024 Winter / CHIERIA Learning Volunteer Project Lecture "Microbes Change Our Future," on March 1 and 8, 2024. The actual observation of ciliates with a simple smartphone microscope by one person at a time was well received.
- 2024.3.7
【March 27, 2024】
We would like to inform you that a symposium will be held at the 2020 Spring Meeting of the Japanese Society of Fisheries Science as follows.
Although it is on-site only, non-members of the Fisheries Society can also participate.
If you are interested, we would appreciate it if you could participate.Announcement of the Reiwa 6th Spring Conference Symposium “Behavior Analysis of Aquatic Organisms ~Challenging difficult problems in the fisheries field~”
【Detail】
https://pdf.gakkai-web.net/jsfs/kaikoku2024S/_img/jsfs_S_01.pdf【Date】
March 27, 2024【location】
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology Shinagawa Campus 2nd venue【Program】
Please refer to the Japanese page - 2024.2.23-24
Associate Professor Kenji Kikuchi (Team A02-2) participated as a lecturer in the "Fluorescence Microscope Assembly Training" hosted by Associate Professor Keiko Numayama of the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, and conducted outreach activities to a total of 30 people, including junior high and high school students and teachers.
- 2024.2.16
A Workshop on mathematical life science was held at University of Toyama in collaboration with other KAKENHI projects in Transformative Research Areas A.
Mathematical life science— Transformative Research Areas (A)：3G+∞ Fusion Meeting —
Date: Friday, January 19, 2024, Saturday, January 20, 2024
Venue: Faculty of Science, University of Toyama
- 2024.1.31
The special issue 'Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments' edited by Professor Takuji Ishikawa (Group B01-1) and Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Group B02-1) was published jointly by two journals: Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology and Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution jointly by two journals. Due to the novelty of the topics of special issue, this was an unusual collaboration between the two journals. Fifteen papers from members of our research project were also included. This special issue was also published as an e-book.
'Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments'
https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/31502/ethological-dynamics-in-diorama-environments - 2024.1.31
Professor Takuji Ishikawa (B01-1) published a comprehensive review on the hydrodynamic mechanisms related to the behavior of swimming microorganisms including ciliates.
Fluid dynamics of squirmers and ciliated microorganisms (2024).
Takuji Ishikawa, Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 56, 119-145.
https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-fluid-121021-042929 - 2024.1.31
Professor Takuji Ishikawa (B01-1) published a review article base on the history of biomechanics research on the behavior of swimming microorganisms, including ciliates, and discussed the current state-of-art and future direction of research.
50-year History and Perspective on Biomechanics of Swimming Microorganisms: Part I. Individual Behaviours (2023).
50-year History and Perspective on Biomechanics of Swimming Microorganisms: Part II. Collective Behaviours (2023).
Takuji Ishikawa and T. J. Pedley, Journal of Biomechanics, 158, 111706.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021929023002750
Takuji Ishikawa and T. J. Pedley, Journal of Biomechanics, 160, 111802.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021929023003731 - 2023.1.30
“The mysterious world of slime molds that approaches the “intelligence" of single cells” (broadcasted on November 13, 2022) will be rebroadcast on NHK E-Tele Science ZERO on February 4 and 10, 2024.
This program introduces the research content of Group B02-01, and due to its popularity, it will be aired again on domestic terrestrial TV following the international broadcast on NHK WORLD-JAPAN on October 23, 2023.
NHK Educational TV Science ZERO
https://www.nhk.jp/p/zero/ts/XK5VKV7V98/episode/te/DRJYK5PP8L/ - 2024.1.30 November 20th, Swiss high school students Gilles Lavanchy and Martion Molteni interviewed Professor T. Nakagaki of Group B02-2 and created and released an interview video "Interview Toshiyuki Nakagaki - Le BLOB -“(with French subtitles) introducing some of the research content.
- 2024.1.22 Assistant Professor Shiba Kogiku (Team A01-2) conducted outreach activities at Open campus in Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba.
- 2024.1.19
【March 21-22, 2024】
The 5th Area Meeting will be held in Sendai.
【Date】
Thursday, March 21, 2024 13:00-19:30 (Doors open 12:00)
Friday, March 22, 2024 9:30-16:00 (Doors open 9:00)【location】
Tohoku University Katahira Campus Katahira Sakura Hall【Program】
Please refer to the Japanese page
- 2024.1.14
Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki of Group B02-1 served as Discussion Leader of the Biological Intelligence for Robotics Session at the Gordon Research Conference on Robotics "Physical and Computationally Intelligent Behaviour in Robots" (January 14-19, 2024, Ventura, CA), and gave a talk in the Bioinspired Intelligent Robots Session "Physical and Computationally Intelligent Behaviour in Robots". He conceptually introduced the prototype of intelligent behavior of protists and how it works.
Physically and Computationally Intelligent Behaviour in Robots
https://www.grc.org/robotics-conference/2024/ - 2024.1.10
Dr. Shikada (Group A01-1) and his colleagues created a video titled “Ecophysiology of Red Tide Plankton'' and published it on the website of Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency.
Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency
https://www.fra.go.jp/gijutsu/kenkyu/plankton.html - 2024.1.4
November 23, 2023 Hirohashi (a member of publicly offered research group) give a public talk and demonstration of giant squid dissection for about 80 public audience, which was YouTubed on time.
Asahi Weekly DIGITAL
https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASRCR61B4RCRPIHB00L.htmlKobe Shimbun NEXT
https://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/tajima/202311/0017059490.shtml
- 2024.1.4
September 4-8, 2023 Hirohashi (a member of publicly offered research group) was invited to the 16th Biology of Sperm conference held at Stockholm as a plenary speaker to give a talk about "two types of males and two types of sperm in squids.
Left bottom: with the organizers (Rhonda and John) .
- 2023.12.20
December 20th, Professor T. Nakagaki of Group B02-1 wrote a popular science book introducing his research,”Thinking Slime Molds: Exploring the Roots of Biological Knowledge'' (written by Toshiyuki Nakagaki, Yamakei Bunko, Yama-to-Keikoku-sha).
written by Toshiyuki Nakagaki, Yamakei Bunko, Yama-to-Keikoku-sha
https://www.yamakei.co.jp/products/2823049820.html - 2023.12.20-22
From December 20th to 22nd, 2023, the “Workshop on Taxis Behavior Equation in Hiroshima" took place at the Hiroshima University Phoenix International Center MIRAI CREA.
On-site participants included members from the Algorithm Evaluation Team (Team B02-2), Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Hokkaido University) [representative] from Team B02-1, and Professors Shiba and Yoshida from the Diorama Behavior Team (Team A01-2).
Additionally, Professor Ishikawa, Professor Omori, and one graduate student from the Mechanical Modeling Team (Team B01-1) joined the workshop online. The focus of our intensive discussions was on primordial intelligence algorithms rooted in the phototaxis and chemotaxis of living organisms.
Program - Workshop on Taxis Behavior Equation in Hiroshima
- 2023.12.17
December 17th, Professor T. Nakagaki of Group B02-1 participated in the Ig Nobel Prize official event “Ig Nobel Face-to-Face 2023 in JAPAN” at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, and introduced some concept of research project on Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments in the panel discussion “Why do people do science?
The event was broadcast on NHK TV News (7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.).Miraikan - Ig Nobel Outline
https://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/news/press/202311133242.html「Ig Nobel Face-to-Face 2023 in JAPAN」
https://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/events/202311093234.htmlNHK TV News "Event where Nobel Prize and Ig Nobel Prize winners talk in Tokyo"
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20231217/k10014290641000.html
- 2023.12.12
Associate Prof. Kenta Ishimoto (Team B01-2) published a Japanese translation of “Fluid Mechanics: A Very Short Introduction” (by Eric Lauga) from Iwanami Shoten, Publishers.
Iwanami Shoten, Publishers Website
https://www.iwanami.co.jp/book/b636760.html
- 2023.12.11-12 December 11-12, Professor T. Nakagaki of Group B02-1 held an international workshop "Biological Physics of adaptive behavior in cells and higher organisms" as part of Hokkaido University-Bremen University Exchange Day with Professor H. G. Doebereiner of the University of Bremen. He introduced the research project on Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments and exchanged opinions with ten German researchers. There were presentations by graduate students from both the Japanese and German sides.
- 2023.11.23 Associate Prof. Kenta Ishimoto (Team B01-2) and Prof. Makoto Iima (Team B02-2) have co-edited a special topic titled 'Advances in the Physics of Biofluid Locomotion' in the Journal of the Physical Society of Japan (JPSJ). The research teams led by Prof. Takuji Ishikawa (Team B01-1) and Prof.
Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Team B02-1) have also contributted to this special topic.JPSJ Special Topics URL
https://journals.jps.jp/toc/jpsj/2023/92/12- 2023.11.18-19 November 18-19, Science Agora 2023 (hosted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, supported by Cabinet Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry/Science Council of Japan/Keidanren/The Japan Association of National Universities/Federation of Japanese Private Colleges and Universities Associations, etc., held at Tokyo Daiba Telecom Center), we held a planned exhibition titled '' Towards learning from microscopic strategies of the single-cell, protists'' and introduced a part of our research project to over 500 visitors.
This exhibition was planned and implemented mainly by Group A02-1, Group B02-1, and Group B02-2 in collaboration with related graduate students and high school students from Super Science High School. Over 100 visitors wrote down a comment on the behavior of protists.
Science Agora 2023:Towards learning from microscopic strategies of the single-cell, protists
https://www.jst.go.jp/sis/scienceagora/2023/on-site/booth/324.html
- 2023.11.15 The symposium "The survival strategies of unicellular organisms on a microscale" at the 61st annual meeting of Biophysical Society of Japan co-hosted by our research area was held in Nov 15th, 2023 at Nagoya Congress Center.
"The survival strategies of unicellular organisms on a microscale"
Organizers Kage Azusa (Gakushuin Univ.)、Nomura Mami (Yamagata Univ.)、Shiba Kogiku (Univ. of Tsukuba) Date Wednesday, November 15, 2023 14:00-16:30 Venue Nagoya Congress Center Speakers Shashank Shekhar (Emory Univ.), Syun Echigoya (Hokkaido Univ.), Romain Brette (Sorbonne Univ.), Mami Nomura (Yamagata Univ.), Susumu Takatsuka (Sony Group Corporation), Kohei Yoshiyama (Univ. Shiga Pref.) 
- 2023.11.10 The Diorama-Ethology ciliate workshop was held in Nov 10th, 2023 at Gakushuin University and online.
- 2023.11.8 On November 8th, the research content of Group B02-1 was reported in Yomiuri Shimbun (Newspaper) article ``Eureka Hokkaido University: Reconsidering intelligence through smart single cells.’'
- 2023.10.27 The research of Associate Professor Kenta Ishimoto (Team B01-2) of the planning group was introduced in the scientific magazine New Scientist.
Paper
「Odd Elastohydrodynamics: Non-Reciprocal Living Material in a Viscous Fluid」
https://doi.org/10.1103/PRXLife.1.023002New Scientist
「Sperm caught breaking Newton's third law of motion」
(October 28, 2023 issue)
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397442-sperm-caught-breaking-newtons-third-law-of-motion/- 2023.10.25-26 A joint seminar was organized by the Issac Newton Institute (Cambridge) and the Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University. Dr. Kogiku Shiba (University of Tsukuba), the leader of the planning group of this project, gave an invited lecture and introduced the results of his research on chemotaxis of sperm motility and research activities in the area of Ethological dynamics in diorama environments.
Titles and abstracts of the presentations can be found below.
INI-RIMS joint seminar | Fluid Mechanics for Life
In addition, videos of the joint seminar presentations are available at
https://www.newton.ac.uk/seminar/40055/
https://www.newton.ac.uk/seminar/40530/This joint seminar was jointly organized by the "Role of Boundaries in Biological Fluid Dynamics" meeting held by the Institute for Mathematical Analysis, Kyoto University, and the INI research program "Mathematics of movement: an interdisciplinary approach to mutual challenges in animal ecology and cell biology".
https://fluid.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/2023年度研究集会「生物流体力学における境界の役/
https://www.newton.ac.uk/event/mmv/
- 2023.10.24 October 24, 2023: NHK Science ZERO introduced our research project “The mysterious world of slime molds that approaches the “intelligence" of single cells” (broadcasted on November 13, 2022) has been remade into "The Superpowers of Slime Molds" for overseas use, and it was broadcasted internationally on NHK WORLD-JAPAN.
This program can also be viewed on NHK+ and NHK On-Demand.The Superpowers of Slime Molds
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/2015308/- 2023.10.10 The workshop on the ciliates will be held in November 10th, 2023 at Gakushuin University.
Please visit the workshop webpage below.
https://ajar-squirrel-1c2.notion.site/Diorama-Ethology-Ciliate-Workshop-30e65af00c1b42dabf8d4e58443ec5ae【Title】
Diorama-Ethology Ciliate Workshop【Date and venue】
November 10th, 2023
Online: Zoom
Onsite: Room 101, South Building No. 7, Gakushuin University【Program】
13:00 Venue open 13:30-14:00 Masatoshi Ichikawa (Kyoto Univ.)
“Rheotaxis of ciliates”14:10-14:40 Azusa Kage (Gakushuin Univ.)
“Long-term tracking of *Paramecium*”14:50-15:20 Itsuki Kunita (Univ. of Ryukyus)
“Slow Time-Constant Channel Responses Driving Intellectual Behavior in *Paramecium*”15:30-16:30 Romain Brette (ISIR, Sorbonne Univ.)
“Integrative modeling of *Paramecium*, a “swimming neuron””17:00-19:00 Social gathering
(onsite only; details will be announced after registration)- 2023.10.9
On October 9, 2023, at "Scientists Festival that You Can Visit" (Akihabara, Tokyo)”, sponsored by the Japan Association for the Advancement of Science (JAAS) and supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Science Council of Japan, the Union of Japanese Societies for Biological Science, etc.), professor T. Nakagaki of B02-1 group gave a lecture titled “Cellular Ethological Dynamics for Proto-intelligence Observed in Diorama Environments" at the session "Interesting and Serious Scientists: The World of Ig Nobel Prizes”, and participated in the panel discussion, to show the research activities of our research project.
Japan Society for the Advancement of Science Annual Conference 2023
https://meetings.jaas.science/- 2023.10.7-8 The workshop for young scientists was held in Oct 7-8th, 2023 at Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba.
The event was attended by 35 people, including 4 lecturers and 19 young people (students and postdocs), and we were able to have lively discussions and exchanges.
Dr. Eriko Watanabe of the University of Electro-Communications was invited from the "Research on Transdisciplinary Study of Scattering and Fluoroscopy" (https://www.org.kobe-u.ac.jp/scattering_clairvoyance/) for an interdisciplinary exchange program.
- 2023.10.2 October 2, 2023, in the popular series "President Interview No. 107: Expanding possibilities by changing your perspective ~ Two perspectives and knowledge to find clues to solutions" in the magazine "People and Systems" published by NTT Data Engineering Systems, Inc., the research of Planned Research group B02-1, "Skillful behavioral abilities of protists including slime molds" was introduced.
"People and Systems" published by NTT Data Engineering Systems, Inc.
https://www.nttd-es.co.jp/magazine/backnumber/no107/no107-specialreport.html- 2023.9.27 September 27, 2023, (NPO) hello tomorrow Asia Pacific SUMMIT 2023 (held at National Gallery Singapore, Singapore) Alternative Intelligence Session “Brainless, but capable of complex decision-making” by Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Hokkaido University) of B02-1 group gave a Keynote Speech “Capable of remembering, anticipating, and deciding, to think that single-celled organisms are stupid would be wrongful,” followed by a panel discussion “Hidden in plain sight: intelligence as we don't know.” He introduced some of the research in this area.
Hello Tomorrow APAC Summit 2023
https://www.hello-tomorrow-apac.org/apac-summit-2023- 2022.9.15 The 4th Area Plenary Meeting and the 3rd Discussion Meeting were held at Hokkaido University.
There were 68 in-person participants and 26 online participants.
Two academic investigators and five evaluation team members were also in attendance to give their comments.
- 2023.9.15 On September 10, 2023, Professor Nishiyama of Group A01-01 appeared on NHK Science ZERO and introduced algae biofuel production.
"The mysterious world of slime mold approaching the "intelligence" of single cells"
https://www.nhk.jp/p/zero/ts/XK5VKV7V98/episode/te/JVYKRNX7NK/Rebroadcast September 16
- 2023.9.12 Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Hokkaido University) of B02-1 group wrote an article about research in this area and scientific research in general, in the Hokkaido Shimbun's evening column “GYOGANZU (Fisheye)”.
September 12, 2023
"When humans return to being single-celled"
Movement of sperm as a single-celled organism during the change of generations in humans.August 29, 2023
"Researcher's role"
Switching of phototaxis in Chlamydomonas.July 4, 2023
"Small hairs in the body are amazing"
Ciliary movement from unicellular to multicellular organisms.June 13, 2022
“Dandelion by the edge of fence"
Understanding the functions of living organisms through fluid dynamics.January 7, 2022
"Mathematical model to understand weather and corona infection"
On the importance of mechanical study.- 2023.9.8 Prof. Kazuo Inaba (A01-2 group) was awarded the Zoological Society of Japan Award 2023.
Award winner lecture summary
https://www.zoology.or.jp/annual-meeting/3/prizewinner/
- 2023.9.3 Associate Professor Shinichiro Maruyama in the Publicly Offered Research group and his colleagues have identified a new pathway by which sugar is released by coral symbiotic algae. This pathway involves the largely overlooked cell wall, showing that this structure not only protects the cell but plays an important role in symbiosis and carbon circulation in the ocean.
Published in eLife
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.80628Press release of the research (Tohoku Univ.)
https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/researchers_unearth_new_process_algae_pass_nurtirients_to_coral_host.html- 2023.9.1 On August 26th, 2023, research on "skillful behavior of protozoa" by Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Hokkaido University) of B02-1 group was introduced in the video content of the web media "Rike Lab".
- 2023.9.1 Dr. Kazuhiro Aoki (A01-1 group) and his colleagues found that the spread of a red tide is caused by changes in the diurnal vertical migration (DVM) pattern of the causative phytoplankter. The results were published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin.
【Title】
Dynamics of a fish-killing dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi red-tide captured by composite data sources.【Author】
Kazuhiro Aoki, Koichi Sugimatsu, Naoaki Yoshimura, Yoshiyuki Kuroki, Hiroki Nakashima, Keisuke Hoshina, Keisuke Ura【Paper Description】
In this study, controlling factor of a horizontal expansion of a fish-killing Karenia mikimotoi red-tide was clarified in the Yatsushiro Sea using multiple data sources. The backscattering data of the current meter captured the modulation of DVM (shallowing of the night distribution). It was suggested that the horizontal expansion of the bloom was driven by the strong surface current and the modulation of DVM.【Link】
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X23009062
- 2023.8.22 On August 22nd, 2023, assistant Professor Yukinori Nishigami (Hokkaido University) of B01-1 group, jointly with B02-1 group, accepted overseas students (9 students from university and high school) supported by SAKURA Science Program (JST) and conducted a hands-on learning program on ecology and behavior of protist.
- 2023.08.10 Associate Professor Hironori Ueno (Group B01-1) introduced the field of "Ethological dynamics in diorama environments" in the university collaboration course "Let's observe the world of micro organisms!".
【Couse Title】
Let's take a peek into the world of micro organisms!【Date】
Thursday, August 10, 2023, 13:30-15:30【Place】
KARIYA Cultural Center "AIRIS"
- 2023.07.19 The 20th General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held in Fisheries Technology Institute (Goto).
- 2023.7.11-12 July 11-12, 2023. The joint research meeting International Workshop on Applied Mathematics was held at Hokkaido University between the Department of Applied Mathematics, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, and Research Center of Mathematics for Social Creativity, Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, which was co-organized by this research area. Associate Professor Katsuhiko Sato of the Planned Research Group B02-1 presented the results, and Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki participated and exchanged opinions.
- 2023.7.2 Associate Professor Katsuhiko Sato and his colleagues in B02-1 group found that nematodes transfer to insects using an electric field. This result provides an important insight into the mystery : how is small organism that slowly crawls on the ground able to spread around the world?
published in Current Biology
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.042Press release of the research (Hokkaido Univ., Hiroshima Univ.)
https://www.hokudai.ac.jp/news/pdf/230703_pr2.pdf
https://www.hokudai.ac.jp/news/2023/07/post-1255.htmlArticles in Newspapers etc
・Nihon Keizai Shinbun (2nd Jul.)
・Nikkan Kogyo Shinbun (6th Jul.)
・Yahoo!Yahoo! News (6th Jul.)
・Yomiuri Shinbun (31st Jul.)
・Hokuriku Chunichi Shinbun (6th Jul.), Hokuriku Chunichi Shinbun (6th Jul.) etc- 2023.06.27 In April 2023, UK based organization [Braintastic! Science] piloted their new show for children, Amazing Animals, at the Edinburgh Science Festival, featuring the work of B02-1 group (Professor T. Nakagaki).
In April 2023, UK based organization [Braintastic! Science](*1) piloted their new show for children, Amazing Animals, at the Edinburgh Science Festival, featuring the work of Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki. During the show, founder and presenter Ginny Smith introduced the families to the amazing cognitive abilities of animals including crows, chimps and dolphins as well as the surprising puzzle-solving skills of the humble slime mould. The audience were challenged to solve a simple maze, and to connect the Tokyo area subway map, before seeing the slime mould’s solutions, and hearing about how effectively they can solve puzzles like this, despite not having a brain! The show was received really well, and Braintastic! Science now plan to add it to their repertoire, taking it to schools and festivals around the UK and (occasionally) elsewhere, sharing the amazing abilities of the slime mould, and the work of the Professor Nakagaki group, with a wide and diverse audience.
(*1) Braintastic! Science
https://www.braintasticscience.com/
- 2023.6.20 List of Achievements for FY2022" is now available.
- 2023.06.03 Associate Professor Hironori Ueno (Group B01-1) introduced the field of "Ethological dynamics in diorama environments" in a university laboratory tour of the SS Science Club of Toyota Nishi High School which is a super science high school (SSH).
【Couse Title】
Toyota Nishi High school Laboratory tour【Date】
Thursday, March 30, 2023, 15:30-17:30【Place】
Aichi University of Education
- 2023.05.18 The 18th General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held in Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- 2023.04.04 【2023.05.10 Publish】
A book related to protists, the subject of research by Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments, entitled "Dictionary of Protists" (Asakura Shoten) has been published. Seven members of the the planned research group and the publicly offered research group were involved in the project as editors and authors."Dictionary of Protists" (Asakura Shoten)
https://www-asakura-co-jp.translate.goog/detail.php?book_code=17181&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja- 2023.04.02 April 2, 2023. The research of Assistant Prof. Yu Fukasawa et al. of the publicly solicited group was published in Nihon Keizai Shinbun "Mushroom conversation? Electrical potentials were detected".
Nihon Keizai Shinbun
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGKKZO69816960R00C23A4MY1000/- 2023.03.24 The research team led by Assistant Prof. Yu Fukasawa (Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University), a member of the publicly solicited group issued a press release.
Tohoku University (JP)
https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/japanese/2023/03/press20230324-01-rainfall.html- 2023.03.30 Associate Professor Hironori Ueno (Group B01-1) gave a lecture in "Meeting for development of teaching materials using microorganisms" - observation of microorganisms contained in water from a nearby pond using a microscope.In this lecture, we introduced the research activities of "Ethological dynamics in diorama environments".
Couse Title:Meeting for development of teaching materials using microorganisms
Date:Thursday, March 30, 2023, 15:30-17:30
Place:Aichi University of Education
- 2023.3.16-17 【March 16-17, 2023】
The third area meeting was held online for research exchange.
- 2023.3.15 Assistant Professor Yu Fukasawa (Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University), a member of the publicly solicited group, has published 2 papers.
- 2023.03.10 The research team led by Assistant Prof. Yu Fukasawa (Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University), a member of the publicly solicited group issued a press release.
Tohoku University (JP)
https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/japanese/2023/03/press20230310-02-mycelial.html- 2023.3.10 Assistant Professor Nishigami of Group B01-1, Associate Professor Sato, Professor Nakagaki, Postdoctoral Researcher Atsushi Taniguchi, Postdoctoral Researcher Charles Fosseprez, and graduate students of Group B02-1 gave a class to 40 students at Hokkai High School as part of the Hokkaido University Academic Fantasista Project (in collaboration with the Hokkaido Shimbun).
The theme was "Exploring the Ecology and Behavior of Protists", and participants learned hands-on through laboratory practice and lectures.- 2023.3.8 Assistant Professor Nishigami of Group B01-1, Associate Professor Sato, Professor Nakagaki, Postdoctoral Researcher Atsushi Taniguchi, Postdoctoral Researcher Charles Fosseprez, and graduate students of Group B02-1, in cooperation with the SSH project of Keisei High School in Hokkaido, accepted 14 foreign high school students (India and Australia) of the JST Sakura Science Program and others for a one-day experience.
The theme was "Exploring the Ecology and Behavior of Protists", and participants learned through laboratory practice and lectures.- 2023.2.23 The research by Prof. Nakagaki et al. in Group B02-01 was reported in the Mainichi Newspaper in an article titled "Amazing Ability of Slime Molds: 'Intelligence' Learned from Single-Celled Organisms", which was published online on the 21st.
- 2023.2.19 Professor Nakagaki, a member of Group B02-01, gave a talk on "Clever Single Cells" to elementary school students as part of the science club activity of "Team Kujira-go" an NPO (nonprofit organization) that conducts hands-on learning activities on marine ecosystem and environment for children, who will be responsible for future science.
- 2023.2.17 One-day workshop on mathematical life science was held at Kyoto University in collaboration with other KAKENHI projects in Transformatice Research Areas A.
「Methods and Applications in Mathematical Life Sciences --Transformative Research A: 3G+∞ Fusion Meeting —」
- 2023.2.15 The research team led by Prof. Shinya Sato (Team B01-2) in the Planning Group issued a press release.
Fukui Prefectural University
Lake Biwa Museum
PublicationThe discovery of the invasive diatom from Kinki Area has been reported in newspapers and other media.
Yomiuri Shimbun Online
Asahi Shinbun Digital
Mainichi Shimbun
Shiga Prefecture
NHK NEWS WEB- 2023.01.28-29 Math & Modeling Lecture in Sendai was held.
Date : 28-29 Jan, 2023
Place: Kawauchi Hagi Hall, Tohoku University
- 2023.1.18 Two presentations related to this project, presented at the Annual Meeting of the Japan Society of Fluid Mechanics in 2022, were selected as "Noteworthy Research in 2022" in Nagare, the Journal of the Japan Society of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 41, No. 6 (2022)!
One is entitled “Position-Control Experiments of the Localized Bioconvection of Euglena by Non-Uniform Light Environment” by Prof. Hiroshi Yamashita (Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University), Prof. Nobuhiko J. Suematsu (Meiji Institute for Advanced Study of Mathematical Sciences, Meiji University) and Prof. Makoto Iima (Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University) et al., who are members of group B02-2. The other is entitled "Microswimming Theory of Odd-elastic Materials" by Prof. Kenta Ishimoto (Research Institute for Mathematical Science, Kyoto University) et al., who is a member of group B01-2.
In addition, a photograph of the experiment taken by Prof. Yamashita was adopted for the cover of Nagare, the Journal of the Japan Society of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 41, No. 6 (2022)!
- 2023.1.15 January 15, 2023. The research of Professor Nakagaki et al. of B02-01 group was published in Nihon Keizai Shimbun "Learning from Living Things No.13 -The Optimal Route Guided by Slime Molds-".
- 2023.1.12 A study on "force-sensing cilia" (Prof. Ishikawa of Group B01-1 participated) was published in Science.
Press release "Force determines asymmetry in body building"
http://www.tohoku.ac.jp/japanese/2023/01/press20230112-01-leftright.htmlJournal URL
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abq8148- 2022.12.8 The workshop on gamete cell motility for the members of our research area was held at Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba.
- 2022.12.7 Published December 10, 2022
Associate Prof. Kenta Ishimoto (Team B01-2) published a book “Microbial Fluid Mechanics: Exploring Motion, Shape and Flow of Life” (Saiensu-Sha)SAIENSU-SHA WebSite
https://www.saiensu.co.jp/search/?isbn=978-4-7819-1559-3&y=2022
- 2022.11.18 Lecture video for junior and senior high school students by the Council of Joint Usage/Research Centers in National Universities (JURC)- As part of the Knowledge Base [SUGUWAKA Academia] series, Assistant Professor Nishigami (Group B01-01) and Postdoctoral Researcher Taniguchi (Group B02-01) , Prof. Nakagaki (Group B02-01) and others created and published “Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments at a Glance".
- 2022.11.13 On November 13, 2022, Prof. Nakagaki and others from the B02-01 group appeared on NHK TV program SCIENCE ZERO and introduced our research project.
"The mysterious world of slime mold approaching the "intelligence" of single cells"
https://www.nhk.jp/p/zero/ts/XK5VKV7V98/episode/te/DRJYK5PP8L/Summary article "The common sense of single cells has changed!
The "information processing ability" of the mysterious creature "slime mold" was amazing! ”
https://www.nhk.jp/p/zero/ts/XK5VKV7V98/blog/bl/pkOaDjjMay/bp/pd8k3w0eDR/"Doctor's room" "When Dr. was a child. Vol.9"
https://www.nhk.jp/p/zero/ts/XK5VKV7V98/blog/bl/pMLm0K1wPz/bp/pARk6ajkJP/Rebroadcast November 19, 11:10 a.m.~
- 2022.11.10 Prof. Takuji Ishikawa (Team B01-1) received the Fluid Science Research Award
- 2022.11.4 November 4, 2022 Exhibited at Science Agora sponsored by JST: We were able to welcome more than 550 visitors in two days.
Visitors can directly observe 30 kinds of protozoa using 4 different microscopes according to their interests, and wrote short comments to share with other visitors.
- 2022.11.2 Professor Kazuo Inaba (Team A01-2) appeared in the NHK BS Premium program "Humanience: 4 Billion Year Plan" and his research on cilia was introduced.
Title
Humanience: 4 Billion Year PlanDate
Tuesday, November 1, 2022 22:00-22:59
[Rebroadcast] : Thursday, November 3, 2022 23:00-23:59Broadcasting
NHK BS Premium
*To be made available on NHK On DemandDetail
NHK ～HUMANIENCE～- 2022.11.1 November 05-06, 2022
We will exhibit at "Science Agora 2022", one of the largest science events in Japan, in collaboration with Prof. Nakagaki's lab in Team B02-1 and Ethological dynamics in diorama environments (project number 406).Title
SCIENCE AGORA 2022Date
Friday, 4th– Sunday, 6th NovemberHost
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)Detail
SCIENCE AGORA 2022 [No.406] The Microorganisms: Unexpected Teachers for Tomorrow's Challenge?!
- 2022.10.29 One-day Workshop on Cellular-level ethological dynamics towards "proto-intelligence" was held at Kyoto University.
Two speakers from overseas and four from Japan gave lectures. Forty participants attended in person and 30 participated online.
- 2022.10.25 The research group of Assistant Professor Kogiku Shiba (Team A01-2) and Professor Kazuo Inaba (Team A01-2) have issued a press release on the scientific paper published online in "Current Biology".
- 2022.10.11、2022.10.17 Senior Scientist Tomoyuki Shikata (Planning Team A01-1) was interviewed by the Asahi Shimbun about the harmful red tide in Hokkaido last autumn. The result was published in the morning edition and the electronic edition of the Asahi Shimbun.
- 2022.10.2 The research by Prof. Noritaka Hirohashi, a member of the publicly offered research group, was featured in the Sankei Shimbun's Close-Up Science section as a special feature article titled "The Reality of the Giant Squid of the Deep Sea in Reproduction" (web version and 10/2 Kanto morning edition and 10/17 Kansai evening edition).
- 2022.10.1 Associate Prof. Kenta Ishimoto (Team B01-2) received the 11th Hiroshi Fujiwara Prize for Mathematical Sciences
- 2022.9.22 Associate Professor Kenji Kikuchi (Team A02-2) and his colleagues presented a research paper entitled "Reciprocating intestinal flows enhance glucose uptake in C. elegans" with Professor Takuji Ishikawa (Team B01-1).
- 2022.9.10 On Saturday, September 10, Dr. Taniguchi and Dr. Charles Fosseprez, postdoctoral fellows of group B02-01, accepted a one-day college experience (five students) from Hokkaido Keisei High School, a super science high school, and conducted a hands-on course on an overview of "Ethological dynamics of protists in diorama environments".
[Program]
Hokkaido Keisei High School SSH 1-day experience program
Commemorative photo after the course
- 2022.9.2 Senior Scientist Tomoyuki Shikata (Plannning Team A01-1) was interviewed by the Nishinippon Shimbun about the harmful red tide in a coastal area of Kyushu this summer. The result was published in the morning edition and the electronic edition of the Nishinippon Shimbun.
- 2022.8.28 Associate Professor Hironori Ueno (Group B01-1) gave a lecture "Let's look into the world of microorganisms" - introduction of various microorganisms and their research, observation of microorganisms in water using a microscope - at the Miyoshi City Library Learning Exchange Plaza "SunLive". In this lecture, we introduced the research activities of Ethological dynamics of protists in diorama environments.
【Course Title】
Let's look into the world of microorganisms【Date】
Sunday, August 28, 2022, 13:00-15:00【Place】
Miyoshi City Library Learning Exchange Plaza "SunLive"【Contents】
introduction of various microorganisms and their research, observation of microorganisms in water using a microscope. In this lecture, we introduced the research activities of Ethological dynamics of protists in diorama environments.
- 2022.8.26 Professor Nakagaki of Team B02-01 will give a lecture on "Ethological dynamics of protists in diorama environments" for high school students at "Academic Fantasista 2022," a project promoted by Hokkaido University and the Hokkaido Shimbun as part of the "Science and Technology Dialogue with the Public" project by the Cabinet Office.
- 2022.8.25 Dr. Yuasa, Dr. Onizuka, and Dr. Kitatsuji (TeamA01-1) conducted outreach activities at a work-study program held at Hatsukaichi Municipal Ohno Junior High School.
- 2022.8.24 Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki introduced research results and concepts related to our project on the website “RIKE Lab - Research Institute for Ideal Working Style in Science -"
- 2022.8.21 Prof. Kazuo Inaba (Team A01-2) conducted outreach activities at a lecture for high school teachers held at Hakodate Shirayuri Gakuen Junior & High School.
- 2022.8.20 On August 20, 2022, the Plenary Meeting, with the participation of 74 in-person and 14 online, was held at Hokkaido University.
This was our first meeting in which all members participated.
Senior scientific research specialists and external evaluation committee members also attended the meeting to give their comments.
- 2022.8.15 Associate Professor Kenji Kikuchi (Team A02-2) participated as an online lecturer in "Field Biology of the Northern Sea, Intertidal Zone in Summer 2022" organized by Research Center for Marine Biology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, and conducted outreach activities to a total of five 2nd to 4th year undergraduate students from national, public and private universities.
- 2022.8.6 Assistant Professor Shiba Kogiku (Team A01-2) conducted outreach activities at Open campus in College of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba.
- 2022.8.5 Prof. Kazuo Inaba (Team A01-2) conducted outreach activities at an open lecture for high school students held at Shimoda marine research center, University of Tsukuba.
- 2022.8.4-6 Dr. Kitatsuji, Dr. Sugimatsu, and Dr. Yuasa (Group A01-1) observed a diurnal vertical migration of the toxic red tide dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi in the Yatsushiro Sea by R/V Yoko-Maru of the Fisheries Research and Education Agency on 4-6th August in 2022.
- 2022.8.1-5 Associate Professor Kenta Ishimoto (Team B01-2) conducted outreach activities at Mathamatics Public Lectures at Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University.
- 2022.7.25 Prof. Noritaka Hirohashi, a member of the publicly offered research group, conducted outreach activities for 13 high school students as a part of the STEAM project organized by Matsue Higashi High School.
Photo: a student dissecting a female of “akaika” squid- 2022.7.22 Publicly Offered Research, 2022FY has been adopted.
- 2022.7.21 The 11th General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held.
- 2022.7.6 Prof. Ishikawa (Team B01-1) wrote a commentary article on diorama environment.
- 2022.7.1 Published July 1, 2022
Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Team B02-1) introduced research concepts related to our field in the general interest magazine "Mathematics Seminar" (Nippon Hyoron Co., Ltd.).The article "A Reliable Encounter between Mathematics and Biology in the Hodgkin-Huxley Model" in the special issue "Mathematics at the Boundary: Where Different Fields Meet,"
Vol. 61, NO. 7, 18-23 (2022).- 2022.6.30 Published June 30, 2022
The research by Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki et al. of the painting Team B02-1 was introduced as "Do organisms without brains have intelligence?" in "The Forefront of Life Science: Challenging the Wonder of Being Alive" by Team Pascal, published by Asahi Sensho (Asahi Shimbun Publications).- 2022.6.24 Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Team B02-1) together with Associate Prof. Takaaki Aoki, Faculty of Education, Kagawa University, Associate Prof. Naoya Fujiwara, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Tohoku University, and Prof. Mark Fricker, Oxford University, presented their research paper, "A model for simulating emergent patterns of cities and roads on real-world landscapes.
Press Release
https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp/blog/all-roads-lead-to-big-cities/Asahi Shimbun web article on July 14, 2022, "Road Leads to Rome, Mucus 'Intelligence' Almost Replicates Italian City."
https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASQ7F62K8Q76ULBH00M.htmlThe article "Italian Urban Development Verified by slime mold 'Intelligence';Research Team from Kagawa University, Hokkaido University, and Others Write Paper" appeared in the morning edition of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper on July 16, 2022.
https://www.asahi.com/articles/DA3S15357963.html- 2022.6.18 Assistant Professor Nishigami of Team B01-1, Professor Nakagaki of Team B02-1, Postdoctoral Researcher Atsushi Taniguchi, Postdoctoral Researcher Charles Fosseprez, Graduate Student Shun Echigoya, et al.
Dr. Atsushi Taniguchi, Dr. Charles Fossepre, and graduate student Shun Echigoya gave a science lecture for high school students at Asahikawa Kita High School in Hokkaido. The theme was "Exploring the Ecology and Behavior of Protists," and participants learned experientially through field practice, laboratory practice, and lectures. It was hosted by Hokkaido University and the Hokkaido branch of the Yomiuri Shimbun, and co-sponsored by Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments.
Science Lectures
https://www.es.hokudai.ac.jp/news/2022-06-18-science-lecture/
Reported in the Hokkaido edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper on July 20, 2022.Hokkaido University Research Times
https://www.hokudai.ac.jp/researchtimes/science lecture 2022 part1
https://www.cris.hokudai.ac.jp/news/3196science lecture 2022 part2
https://www.cris.hokudai.ac.jp/news/3246Twitter
https://twitter.com/HokkaidoUnivPR/status/1572100190185869313?s=20&t=-4PihQ-L6SmjaeNEa-Nt1Q- 2022.6.17 Associate Professor Kenta Ishimoto (Team B01-2)'s lecture video for junior and senior high school students "Quickly Understand Academia. Quickly Understand Fluid Mechanics - The World of Microorganisms -" is now available.
- 2022.6.14 Research by Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki et al. of Project Team B02-1 was introduced in President online as "Rational Behavior without a Brain - An Amazing Single-Celled Organism that Won the Ig Nobel Prize Twice".
https://president.jp/articles/-/58010- 2022.6.14 Authors: Yusuke Ushijima (Japan Meteorological Business Support Center, Meteorological Research Institute) and Yutaka Yoshikawa (Division of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University :Group A01-1)
Titles: Nonlinearly interacting entrainment due to shear and convection in the surface ocean
Abstracts: This study reveals that sheared flow and convection nonlinearly interact in the ocean surface mixed layer, resulting in reduced entrainment of water from below the mixed layer. Overestimated mixed layer depths seen in many ocean general circulation model simulations may likely be ascribed to inappropriate representation of this nonlinear interaction by those models.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14098-w- 2022.6.14 【2022.10.29】 International workshop
One-day Workshop on Cellular-level ethological dynamics towards "proto-intelligence"【Date】
Saturday, 29th October, 2022【Place】
Hybrid style: Online + Maskawa Hall, Kyoto University- 2022.6.11 Research exchange meeting was held in Sendai.
- 2022.6.10 The 10th General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held in Sendai.
- 2022.06.06 Associate Professor Ishimoto (Team B01-2) of the Planning Team made a press release.
Never too odd to learn how to swim
-Examining the odd locomotion of microswimmers-The content of the announcement has been published in scientific newspapers and other media.
・The Nikkei
・Phys.org- 2022.6.2 Associate Professor Hironori Ueno (Team B01-1) conducted outreach activities at a Senior High School Affiliated to AICHI UNIVERSITY of EDUCATION.
- 2022.5.29 Published May 29, 2022
Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki of Planning Team B02-1 introduced their research in the general-interest magazine "Ale -Genre indefinite culture magazine-".Interview article in the special feature "Rehabilitation of Gathering": "Toward a Slime Mold Life: On the Way of Physical Ethology of Cells"
Vol. 11, 186-217 (2022).- 2022.5.19 The 9th General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held.
- 2022.5 Technical support for sperm chemotaxis research was provided among Teams A01-2, A02-2, and B01-2 to help strengthen collaboration.
- 2022.5.1 Published May 1, 2022
Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Team B02-1) introduced their research in the magazine "Eureka" (published by Seidosha).The article "Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments of Scleromycetes - Foraging Behavior in a Maze as an Example" in the special issue "The World of Fungi - Mushrooms, Molds, and Yeasts"
Vol. 54-6, NO.789, 277-281 (2022).- 2022.4.20 Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki of Planning Team B02-1 presented "Online Science Cafe "Schrödinger's Wednesday (Wednesday Night Live 19:30-21:30)" and exchanged opinions with participants on the theme "Formulation of proto intelligence by Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments".
https://wirelesswire.jp/2022/04/82145/- 2022.4.16 The 8th General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held.
Shimoda Seaside Experiment Center, University of Tsukuba
- 2022.4.2 Associate Professor Kenji Kikuchi (Team A02-2) cooperated in an interview with the Asahi Shimbun newspaper "Nono-chan's DO Science: Why can water striders walk on water?".
- 2022.3.11-14 Technical assistance on ciliate swimming observation and mechanistic modeling was provided among Teams B01-1, B01-2, and B02-1 to promote stronger collaboration.
- 2022.3.11-12,18-19 Associate Professor Kenji Kikuchi (Team A02-2) participated as a lecturer in the 10th transgrade training course "Fluorescence Microscope Assembly Training" organized by Associate Professor Keiko Numayama, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, and conducted outreach activities to a total of 49 participants including junior high and high school students and teachers.
- 2022.3.17 The 7th General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held.
- 2022.02.17 The 6th General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held.
- 2022.02.03 The joint research team of Assistant Professor Shojiku Shiba (Team A01-2) and Professor Kazuo Inaba (Team A01-2) of the project team issued a press release.
Morphological differences in tardigrade spermatozoa induce variation in gamete motility
・TSUKUBA JOURNAL - Biology & Environment
・Press Release PDF (JP)
・Articles - Nazology.net
・paper & Detail- 2022.01.27 The 5th General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held.
- 2022.01.11 On January 11, 2022. Assistant Professor Yukinori Nishigami (Research Group B01-1)., together with graduate students Mr. Shun Echigoya, Associate Professor Katsuhiko Sato (Research Group B02-1).), and Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Research Group B02-1)., hosted six students from the Hokkaido Keisei High School, a super science high school, for a one-day university training program at the Institute of Electronic Science, Hokkaido University.
Under the guidance of Assistant Professor Yukinori Nishigami and others, the program students studied and conducted experiments on the theme of "Exploring the Behavior of Protists," and then presented and discussed their findings.
- 2021.12.23 23 Dec. 2021. Research by Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Research Group B02-1) and his colleagues has been published in Research News, Hokkaido University Homepage. Two Ig Nobel laureates discuss "Research that makes people laugh and then think"
Two Ig Nobel laureates discuss “Research that makes people laugh and then think”
- 2021.12.21 Dec. 21, 2021. Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki's (Research Group B02-1) research was introduced in "Kawaijuku Mirai-buku Plus Mirai-buku", a website for introducing "Outstanding Research Achievements" in collaboration with the Cabinet Office.
‘Equation of motion of slime mold: Does a single-celled organism move like a railroad network? Behavioral study of slime mold using computers'
・Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki | Kawaijuku Mirai-buku Plus Mirai-buku
- 2021.12.16 The 4th General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held.
- 2021.12.15-16 Associate Prof. Hironori Ueno (Team B01-1) conducted outreach activities at a high school attached to Aichi University of Education.
- 2021.12.14 Associate Professor Kikuchi of the Planning Team made a press release.
・School of Engineering, Tohoku University
・Facebook
・TwitterThe content of the announcement has been published in scientific newspapers and other media.
- 2021.12.13 Q&A for Publicly Offered Research Application has been posted.
- 2021.12.11 Associate Prof. Kenta Ishimoto (Team B01-2) received the MIMS Mimura Award.
- 2021.12.04 Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Research Group B02-1) introduced his views on proto-intelligence at the panel discussion and talk event of "Challenge Field Hokkaido Seminar: What is fusion? Dec. 04, 2021, Sapporo.
- 2021.11.27 The 3rd General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held.
National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea at Hatsukaichi City
- 2021.11.25 Publicly Offered Research information has been released.
- 2021.11.24 We have released the site of Ethological dynamics in diorama environments.
- 2021.11.01 Planned Research has been released.
- 2021.11.01 This area has been adopted by the Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A).
- 2021.10.30 Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Research Group B02-1) and his group's research was introduced in the second volume of the book "Let's Talk about Disability! - Disability and Welfare as Considered by 'Kotonone'" edited by Kikuo Satomi, published on October 30, 2021.
Professor Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Research Group B02-1) and his group's research was introduced in the second volume of the book "Let's Talk about Disability! - Disability and Welfare as Considered by 'Kotonone'" edited by Kikuo Satomi, published on October 30, 2021. "Brainless slime mold solves the maze”, pp. 205-219. The research was introduced in the form of a dialogue with the editor Mr. Satomi.
・Seidosha | History / Documents: Let's talk about obstacles! Volume 2
- 2021.10.30 NHK BS1 World Documentary "Slime mold: A genius without a brain" televised the research of Prof. Toshiyuki Nakagaki and his group (Research Group B02-1).
NHK BS World Documentary "Slime mold: Genius without a brain" was aired (rebroadcast). In this documentary, Professor Nakagaki's laboratory was introduced as one of the world's masters of slime mold. This documentary was produced by ARTE France/Hauteville Productions and broadcasted in France and other countries, but NHK translated it into Japanese and broadcasted it.
"Slime molds," single-celled organisms that have characteristics of both amoebas and fungi, are now attracting attention in the world of science. The film depicts the forefront of research to utilize the "intelligent" properties of slime mold, which has no brain or nerves. One of the "intelligent" properties of slime mold is the ability to find the route to the exit of a maze in the shortest distance. One of the "intelligent" properties of slime mold is its ability to find the shortest route to the exit of a maze, and a scientist who used slime mold to create an efficient railroad map of the Tokyo metropolitan area won the Ig Nobel Prize. There are also hopes for the use of slime mold in medicine, environmental issues, and even in the development of bio-computers. The film depicts the forefront of research, including the eerily beautiful growth of slime mold, as well as B-grade horror film footage using slime mold as a motif.
- 2021.10.25 Associate Professor Hironori Ueno (Team B01-1) conducted an outreach activity at Aichi Prefectural Obu Higashi High School.
- 2021.10.21 The 2nd General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held.
- 2021.9.16 The 1st General Group Meeting (Regional Executive Committee Meeting) was held.
- 2023.12.11-12 December 11-12, Professor T. Nakagaki of Group B02-1 held an international workshop "Biological Physics of adaptive behavior in cells and higher organisms" as part of Hokkaido University-Bremen University Exchange Day with Professor H. G. Doebereiner of the University of Bremen. He introduced the research project on Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments and exchanged opinions with ten German researchers. There were presentations by graduate students from both the Japanese and German sides.
