Event Overview

The Science Tokyo SPRING Cross-Boundary Exchange Workshop (FY2024) was held on Monday, March 3, and Tuesday, March 4, as a platform for SPRING (SE) support students to come together, share their research and initiatives, and gain new insights and learning through mutual exchange. As the first in-person event of its kind, this year’s workshop featured lively discussions and proved to be a highly meaningful opportunity for interaction.

*Apologies, the following content is provided in Japanese only.

Event Highlights

[Block A] Monday, March 3, 2025 | 14:30–17:30

Opening Remarks (Video Message)

The session began with a video message from Professor Shigenori Saito, the Program Officer.

Oral Presentations

Two students gave seminar-style oral presentations. Following the presentations, a lively Q&A session took place, with many questions from fellow support students and other participants.

Oral Presentations 【Off-Campus Study】
Presentation by Yichuan ZHU, School of Engineering

Message from the oral presenters to SPRING students

‣All doctoral students face challenges, so don’t try to handle everything alone. I hope you can overcome difficulties by embracing various perspectives and support from others.

‣I believe it’s crucial to have the courage to build connections with many people. You’ll find that those around you are often more kind and helpful than expected, so actively engage in discussions and seek advice! Let’s keep working hard together!

‣Amidst the abundance of references, they can be few and far between. These gaps are not obstacles; they’re launchpads for discovery. Hang in there because you are here to contribute to a better society.

‣Don’t be worried if you’re depressed or feeling stressed with work we all experience that. Don’t be afraid take a break and refresh before you continue.

Poster Presentation

Poster presentations were delivered by approximately 40 students. Participants were able to circulate freely and listen to research presentations that piqued their interest. Each presentation attracted a large audience, making the session a vibrant and engaging opportunity for both presenters and attendees to gain new insights and grow through mutual exchange.

Networking Session

The networking session following the presentations began with opening remarks by Vice Program Officer Nobuharu Iwasawa. It provided a valuable opportunity for communication among fellowship students, participants, and faculty members, fostering connections and expanding future possibilities.

Voices from Participating Students

‣I found it challenging to communicate my research to people outside my field, but I was encouraged by how unexpectedly interested they were.

‣Since I usually don’t have much interaction with other SPRING students, the event felt very refreshing. It was reassuring to feel that there are people who truly support my research.

‣I learned a lot from hearing personal experiences about off-campus training abroad, including how others found their host institutions and what they would have done differently.

‣Listening to other students talk about the challenges they faced and how they overcame them helped me anticipate potential difficulties I might face myself.

‣Being exposed to different research fields deepened my understanding of trends in areas I normally wouldn’t learn about.

‣Unlike previous online interactions, being face-to-face allowed for more in-depth discussions and follow-up questions.

‣The event gave me the opportunity to learn about a wide range of fields, which broadened my perspective on how my own research could contribute to the world from diverse angles.

*Kindly note that the translations above were mostly done with the help of translation tools. Thank you for your understanding.