The third Kyoto University-Inamori Foundation Joint Kyoto Prize Symposium (KUIP) was held at the Clock Tower Centennial Hall on 9 and 10 July.

Under the umbrella theme “Windows for the Future — Looking through the Eyes of Bio/Medical Technology, Mathematics, and Art”, this year’s symposium surveyed three fields of study related to the 2018 Kyoto Prize. The two-day event brought together 11 world leading experts, including one who gave a video presentation on “art”. They heatedly discussed cutting-edge topics receiving attention not just from academic circles, but also from society at large. Around 740 students, researchers, and members of the general public attended.

On the first day, a session on “biotechnology and medical technology” took place on the topic of “Revolution of Technology in Life Sciences”. Ongoing revolutions taking place in some areas of the life sciences, such as fluorescent bio-imaging, scientific applications of human genomics, genome editing and engineering technologies, and cancer immunotherapy, were discussed by four speakers: Dr Atsushi Miyawaki, Deputy Director of RIKEN Brain Science Institute; Dr J Crag Venter, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of J Crag Venter Institute; Dr Emmanuelle Charpentier, Director of Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology; and Dr Tasuku Honjo, Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University.

The “mathematical sciences” session, “Mathematicians’ Views on the World”, was held in the morning on the second day, featuring four mathematicians: Dr Christiane Rousseau, Professor at the University of Montreal; Dr Shigefumi Mori, Director-General of the Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University; Dr Toshikazu Sunada, Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences, Meiji University; and Dr Jeffery C Lagarias, Professor at the University of Michigan. They presented on topics such as mathematics that aids in understanding the planet Earth, motivations of mathematical research, creativity in mathematics, and engineering applications of mathematics, from perspectives specific to mathematicians.

The art session, “Art of Coping with the Cruel World”, was “”held on the afternoon of the second day, with lectures by: Photographer Miyako Ishiuchi and Sofia Kulik; and Dr Marina Grzinic, Research Adviser of the Institute of Philosophy of the Scientific Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. They discussed how arts face with, and present social challenges from their perspectives as photographers, based on their thoughts and experiences as artists. The video presentation was given by Ms Kulik.

The symposium wrapped up with a joint closing session moderated by KU President Juichi Yamagiwa, with some of the invited speakers and members from the committee that organized the event taking the stage. President Yamagiwa delivered feedback on the sessions, asking, “Now that we know the world is finite, what kind of future do you envision through your ongoing work or artistic activities?” Based on these remarks, the speakers and committee members engaged in a broad discussion exceeding the boundaries of their disciplines.

Audience feedback included: “The lectures about biomedical technology were quite interesting, giving me a good grasp of ongoing research”; “The session on mathematics was very good because it presented powerfully how interesting and exciting mathematics is without compromising its integrity”; “I could feel that the arts are closely connected with the real world”; and, “I strongly agree with President Yamagiwa’s views on the issues”.

Day 1July 9(Sat.), 2016

Opening Ceremony

Advanced Technology
“Biotechnology and Medical Technology”

Day 2July 10(Sun.), 2016

Basic Sciences“Mathematical Sciences”

Arts and Philosophy“Arts”

Closing Session