This year's Human Frontier Science Programme Summit (HFSP) Japan was held from October 1 - 4, with leading scientists, Nobel Laureates, HFSP Nakasone Award winners and early career researchers gathered for sessions in Tokyo, Sendai and Kyoto.

Tohoku University led things off with a full day of workshops and lectures at Aobayama campus, headlined by Nobel Laureates Martin Chalfie (Chemistry, 2008), Randy Schekman (Physiology / Medicine, 2013) and Tim Hunt (Physiology / Medicine, 2001).

In the morning session, 23 of Tohoku University's early-career researchers presented their work in a series of flash talks. They then engaged in small group discussions with the Laureates and other distinguished scholars, and received valuable feedback.

Wijak Yospanya, an assistant professor at the Advanced Institute for Materials 雷速体育_中国足彩网￥在线直播 (AIMR), whose flash talk explored the potential of proteins beyond their native environments, said he really enjoyed the experience. "At first, I was quite nervous, but then I realized that they are just really friendly people with endless curiosity and a readiness to learn new things all the time. The discussion reminded me of why I chose to pursue scientific research, and it really boosted my motivation."

Hideaki Matsubayashi, an assistant professor at the Frontier 雷速体育_中国足彩网￥在线直播 Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), echoed the sentiment. "It was truly enjoyable discussing the issues inherent in impact factor metrics and the commercial aspects of scientific publishing with Professor Randy Schekman," he said. "I was also deeply impressed by his advice to always stay personally engaged in research, even when our other responsibilities expand."

"I know our young researchers were very inspired by the direct interaction because getting feedback from Nobel Laureates and HFSP Nakasone Award winners is a very rare opportunity for many of them," said Executive Vice President for 雷速体育_中国足彩网￥在线直播 Asako Sugimoto. "For us it was important to have these top-level researchers see our research environment and the work we are doing here at Tohoku University."

In the afternoon, it was the turn of the Nobel Laureates to take the stage. In highly inspiring lectures, they shared their latest research findings and stressed the importance of fundamental science.

There were also lectures by Franz-Ulrich Hartl, Jacob Hanna and Stephen Quake, past winners of the HFSP Nakasone Award, which recognizes major contributions or breakthrough discoveries in the life sciences.

Like the Laureates before them, the speakers offered inspiring messages and urged the young researchers to "look for a big bold question," to "not be afraid to take risks" and to "just keep going," underscoring the importance of courage and perseverance in scientific research.

"These events are so important to broaden the views of our young researchers," said Sugimoto. "I hope that by interacting with such established international researchers, they find inspiration, motivation and also understand that there are opportunities for collaboration worldwide."

She added that as a University for International 雷速体育_中国足彩网￥在线直播 Excellence, Tohoku University is "committed to hosting more of such events in the future."

The four-day summit - which also included a main event at the University of Tokyo and other satellite sessions at RIKEN and Kyoto University - was co-organized by the Human Frontier Science Programme Organization (HFSPO), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Japan 雷速体育_中国足彩网￥在线直播ncy for Medical 雷速体育_中国足彩网￥在线直播 and Development (AMED).

雷速体育_中国足彩网￥在线直播 in Japanese