RIKEN BSI News No. 12 (May. 2001) - RIKEN Brain Science Institute (RIKEN BSI)

OECD･CERI High-Level Forum Held

On April 26 and 27, a forum entitled "Brain Mechanisms and Learning in Senile States" was held at RIKEN with about 40 experts participating from inside and outside Japan. The forum was held as part of the forum series presented by the OECD･CERI (Centre for Educational Research and Innovation). The purpose of the forum was to promote interactions between researchers of learning science and brain science and between researchers and policy-makers, in considering the ongoing progress of research into brain science, the accompanying elucidation of learning processes (recognition, memorization and language), and applications to education. The forum commenced with explanations of the purpose of the meeting by President Sato of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Director Masao Ito of BSI, and Secretary-General Bengson of CERI, followed by six sessions on themes such as, decisive factors for aging of the brain, its influence on the capabilities of the brain, and so on. During the sessions a lecture was also given by Mr. Akito Arima, member of the House of Councilors, on the current situation of education in our country. In the last stage of the forum, which marked the final in a series of three forums, the secretariat explained the future outlook for BSI with a transition to the 2nd phase in mind.

The 4th BSAC Meeting

Chairperson, Mr. Cuenod, handing the BSAC report to Director Masao Ito.

The 4th meeting of the Brain Science Advisory Council (BSAC) was held over three days from April 4 to 6. The BSAC, composed of 20 experts of established academic standing from both inside and outside Japan, including the Chairperson Mr. Michel Cuenod (ex-Secretary-General of the Human Frontier Science Program), was organized to evaluate, and give recommendations or advice to, the overall management of BSI. The current council made various recommendations as follows:
･ BSI, which reached its 3rd anniversary this year, should develop and ensure top-class human resources to maintain its high standard of research and manage its organization in a wholesome manner.
･ BSI should establish a system for conducting interim and small-scale research evaluations as needed.
･ BSI should encourage collaboration among research laboratories in and outside BSI to promote interdisciplinary research and pursue new fields of research.
･ BSI should establish a division or section in charge of supporting the lives of foreign staff.
･ BSI should promote public relations.
･ BSI should clearly define policies covering intellectual property rights or technology transfer to the private sector.

RIKEN Open Day

The annual RIKEN Open Day was held on April 21. In the Suzuki Umetaro Hall, Dr. Akihiko Takashima, a Laboratory Head at BSI, gave a lecture entitled "Investigating and Exposing Aging of the Brain through the Scientific Approach." In the BSI Central Building, BSI laboratories put on well-planned activities, such as experience corners and exhibitions, including an automated flight of a model helicopter with a brain-style computer and a visit to the aquatic animal breeding facility, which caused the place to buzz with the attentive and eager voices of adults and children. This year also saw a substantial increase in the number of visitors to BSI, including a number of visitors with their families. Interactions between visitors and researchers could be seen everywhere throughout the day indicating that this annual event is a golden opportunity for visitors of all ages and walks of life to familiarize themselves with the reality of research and have a lot of fun with science.

World Brain Awareness Week Held

The annual World Brain Awareness Week campaign was held from March 12 to 18 in 13 parts of the country, for the purpose of promoting a general understanding of the meaning of brain science and its social importance. On March 17, BSI also held a Science Day under the sub-theme "Let's Try! - Now Enter the World of the Brain," for more than 30 senior high school students in Wako and Musashino cities. In the program, which began with a greeting by Director Masao Ito, researchers gave lectures entitled "Watching the Mind - How to Measure Brain Activities Externally with High Spatial Accuracy," "Squid, Brains and Love," and "The Brain of a Robot = A Computer Capable of Learning." The students were then divided into three groups, each of which was almost unaware of the passage of time while seeing the fMRI systems, the squid breeding facility, the racing of two vehicles equipped with brain-style computers, and the marvelous flight of a helicopter. They then visited the Brain Box exhibition room and wound up the day holding free discussions with the researchers. With lively questions being addressed, the discussions were a valuable opportunity for the students to widen their knowledge about brain science. We at BSI are looking forward to providing more such opportunities in the future.