Joint Symposium between the Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University (GSAKU) and the College of Bioresources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University (CBANTU)

A joint symposium between GSAKU and CBANTU took place at Kyoto University on August 27^th-28^th, 2018.

GSAKU and CBANTU have been in constant contact with one another since 2012 through joint workshops, intensive lectures, and the double degree program whose agreement was concluded in March 2018.

In the opening ceremony of August 27^th, Prof. Ryutaro Tao (Pomology) gave opening remarks. Following that, Prof. Eiji Nawata (Tropical Agriculture), the Dean of GSAKU, gave a welcome address and an introduction of GSAKU. In response to that, Prof. Huu-Sheng Lur, the Dean of CBANTU, gave greetings and an introduction of CBANTU, where he talked about the history of the partnership between the two schools. Plenary talks were given by Prof. Jun Ogawa (Fermentation Physiology and Applied Microbiology), Associate Prof. Chi-Te Liu of CBANTU, and Prof. Tzong-Ru Lee of Chung Hsing University, where the latest activities related to industry-academia collaboration and technology translation were introduced.

The CBANTU delegation visited the CBANTU’s satellite office located in the Graduate School of Agriculture Building No.2 before attending the symposium on the subject of “Plant protection” in the Graduate School of Agriculture & Graduate School of Biostudies Building. The venue was filled to capacity, where four speakers from each school (GSAKU: Prof. Naoki Mori, Prof. Yoshitaka Takano, Prof. Takaaki Daimon, and Assoc.Prof. Yoshiko Shimono, CBANTU: Prof. Rong-Nan Huang, Assoc.Prof. Chi-Wei Tsai, Prof. Chao-Ying Chen, and Assoc.Prof. Chia-Lin Chung) gave presentations, which were followed by lively discussions.

After the symposium, the CBANTU and GSAKU delegations attended a welcome dinner. The attendees continued research discussions and interacted with each other, and the welcome dinner ended on a high note.

On the next day of the symposium, the CBANTU delegation led by Prof. Ogawa and Associate Prof. Hisayo Yamane (Pomology) went on an excursion to the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum and Fushimi Inari Shrine, where they enjoyed learning about Japanese traditions and culture.

This event showed a great potential for development of the partnership between the two schools with joint research plans being set up and the utilization of the double degree program being discussed during the symposium and the welcome dinner. This symposium is expected to be held continuously.