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Group
Director Dr. Amari
Receives the INNS President Award |
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Group
Director Dr. Shun-ichi Amari (Lab. Head for Mathematical Neuroscience, Group Director
for the Brain-Style Intelligence Research Group and the Brain Style Information
Systems Group) received the INNS President Award from the International Neural
Network Society (INNS) on July 15. This award was for his prominent leadership
in the establishment of the Asia Pacific Neural Network Assembly and for his outstanding
contributions to information geometry and the Century of the Brain program in
Japan.
This award is presented annually by the INNS to contributors in various research
areas. Three researchers, including Dr. Amari, have received the award this year. |
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Minister
of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Visits BSI |
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The Minister of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Atsuko Toyama, visited BSI as part of
her visit to RIKEN. Dr. Masao Ito, Director of BSI, began the tour by providing
a brief description of the present situation, goals and objectives of BSI. After
that, Group Director Dr. Keiji Tanaka
explained some of the recent achievements in fMRI research and Group
Director Dr. Takao K. Hensch described how various control techniques are used
and how mechanisms of brain development are being elucidated. This was followed
by visits to research laboratories where the Minister saw a flight demonstration
of a helicopter with an on-board brain-style computer and asked enthusiastic questions
to Lab. Head, Dr. Michinori Ichikawa, who provided explanations about his work.
During the final part of the tour, Lab. Head Dr. Akihiko Takashima explained the
work his laboratory has been carrying out on Alzheimer's Disease and presented
some of the most recent research achievements. The Minister expressed her great
expectations for the work and offered words of encouragement to the researchers
that they may one day find a cure for the disease.
Minister Toyama's visit to BSI was extremely cordial indicating the Minister's
deep interest and anticipation with regard to research developments in brain science.
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Group
Director Dr. Hensch Receives the Tsukahara Naka-akira Memorial Award |
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September 26, Group Director Dr. Takao K. Hensch (Lab. head for Neuronal Circuit
Development, Neuronal Function Research Group) received the Tsukahara Naka-akira
Memorial Award, which is presented annually by the Brain Science Foundation for
outstanding research achievements by a young investigator (under 45) in the fields
of science and technology. The award was presented for Dr. Hensch's series of
research projects, including his work on neuronal circuit refinement in development,
and his elucidation of critical period mechanisms with a mouse model that reorganizes
neural circuits even in adulthood. Two researchers, including Dr. Hensch, won
the award for the year 2000. |
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The
4th RIKEN BSI RETREAT Held |
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The 4th RIKEN
BSI RETREAT was held at the Oiso Convention Center for three days from October
9 to 11. About 350 researchers, including participants from the RIKEN-MIT Neuroscience
Research Center, left behind the hustle and bustle of laboratory life and gathered
for this event to give a total of about 300 presentations. The event helped trigger
lively discussions and intellectual interaction among researchers helping researchers
transcend the traditional boundaries of various research areas.
As a new feature at this year's retreat, an opportunity was given for young researchers
to present their most advanced research achievements obtained over the four years
since BSI was established, and many enthusiastic questions and answers were exchanged
between the panelists and audience members. As in last year's retreat, an educational
lecture was also offered to promote an understanding of the basics in different
research areas and clarify the areas of overlap between them. As a featured speaker,
Professor Alison Doupe* was invited from the University of California, San Francisco
(UCSF) to give a special lecture as part of the exchange program that BSI has
with UCSF. Regarding the tasks that lie ahead, we at BSI are hoping to push further
ahead in promoting increased interaction and understanding among researchers in
the three major research areas represented at BSI: "Creating the Brain,"
"Protecting the Brain," and "Understanding the Brain." Through
these activities, we are determined to make positive contributions to the overall
field of brain science and create an environment with the potential for even greater
diversity in terms of research achievements.
*Dr. Allison Doupe (UCSF) joined our Retreat this
year to present her impressive work on the song circuits in developing and adult
birds. As a clinical psychiatrist studying basic mechanisms of vocal learning
with the help of computational models, she perfectly combined the 3 cornerstones
of "understanding, protecting, and creating the brain" represented at
BSI. Dr. Doupe's exciting talk and enthusiastic discussions at the poster session
were enjoyed by all. Selected publications: Boettiger CA, Doupe AJ. (2001) Developmentally
restricted synaptic plasticity in a songbird nucleus required for song learning.
Neuron. 31(5):809-818. Brainard MS, Doupe AJ. (2000) Auditory feedback in learning
and maintenance of vocal behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci. 1(1):31-40.
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BSI
Summer Program 2002 |
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-
Internship (Plan A):
July 11- September 13, 2002 (*September: optional)
- Lecture Course (Plan B): July 23 - August 2 (Title: Seeing the Brain in Action)
Deadline for applications: February 28, 2002
Contact: The Summer Program Organizing
Committee
(http://summer.brain.riken.go.jp/)
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