On 12 February, the 9th Kyoto University-Inamori Foundation Joint Kyoto Prize Symposium (KUIP) took place with approximately 200 attendees, including high school students, researchers, and members of the general public. The annual conference, launched in 2014, had been held online during the past two years due to the pandemic but returned this year to an in-person format at the Marunouchi Building in Tokyo.

This latest KUIP explored “The World Through Mathematics” with three speakers:

The presentations highlighted the broad significance of mathematics, covering topics such as foundation theories and applications for big data and materials development. The speakers also took part in a panel discussion, with Professor Hiraoka moderating. They were joined by:

The panel explored the deep world of mathematics, beginning with the simple question: “How does mathematics relate to our daily lives?” Among other topics, the discussion touched on the researchers’ work styles and reasons for choosing a career in mathematics, possibly making the discipline, viewed by many as highly complex and difficult, more accessible and relatable to the general audience.

Audience feedback included: “As someone with an interest in physics and informatics, I was intrigued by the idea of mathematics as a common language for visualizing data in both of these fields.” “I am glad to have gained the kind of knowledge that I can apply to the real world and to research in other fields.”