At the Board Meeting held on May 9, 2016, FUTI Advisory Committee Members, Nobuko Sakurai and Fumiko Tamura were elected as Board Members. Ms. Sakurai will continue her duties as a member of Scholarship Review Committee. Working with the Treasurer (Dr. Kuwama), Dr. Tamura will focus on financial reporting, tax and regulatory matters.
The FUTI Award Selection Committee has selected six UTokyo students and eight U.S. students for this summer’s scholarship program. A list of these students is shown at the end of this article. The number of UTokyo award recipients declined significantly from nine in 2015 to four this year. This may be attributed primarily to the newly implemented semester system at UTokyo. To the award committee’s disappointment, while last year three attended English language programs and two attended Global Summer Programs (GSP) in the US, no UTokyo students have been selected for these programs this year. FUTI hopes award recipients in these categories will increase in coming years. Six UTokyo students will participate in regular summer courses at U.S. universities, such as Yale University, MIT, University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Stanford University and University of Michigan. Of the six award recipients, two are science or engineering majors, three are social science majors, and one is a PEAK (Program in English at Komaba) student. Four are undergraduates and two are graduate students at the time of FUTI application submission. The award committee has selected five U.S. awardees to support their summer internship at UTokyo’s laboratories. Three of these recipients will participate in the University of Tokyo Research Internship Program (UTRIP), which is hosted by professors in the School of Sciences at UTokyo. One is going to participate in the University of Tokyo Internship Program in Kashiwa (UTSIP-Kashiwa) hosted by the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences and one in another internship program. They are all juniors or seniors majoring in science or engineering and come from Indiana University, Pennsylvania State University, Bates College, University of Southern California, or UC Berkeley. The selection process for FUTI awards was highly competitive. For instance, the four UTRIP participants have been selected from over 40 U.S. undergraduates, many of whom were top students from leading universities in the U.S. In addition to these internship students, two Yale students (both juniors) and one UC Berkeley student (sophomore) have been selected to participate in the Global Summer Program (GSP) courses offered by UTokyo. The FUTI summer scholarship award, a.k.a. the “FUTI Global Leadership Award (FUTI-GLA),” is designed to nurture future global leaders of Japan and the U.S. One of the selection criteria is a demonstration of leadership quality. List of Scholarship Recipients Summer Courses at U.S. Universities (6 UTokyo Students) Ayaka Seki (Science III, Freshman): Yale University Regular Summer Session Nonoko Kawabata (Clinical Psychology, Senior): UC Berkeley Regular Summer Session Yuchen Yan (PEAK, Sophomore): Stanford Summer International Honors Program, Stanford University Yurika Doi (Engineering, Senior): Graybiel’s Lab, McGovern Institute of Brain Research, MIT Shusei Eshima (Law, Master 1): ICPSR Summer Program, University of Michigan Fumiya Uchikoshi (Sociology, Master 2): ICPSR Summer Program, University of Michigan UTRIP at UTokyo (3 U.S. students) David Burke (Indiana University, Chemistry, Junior): Professor Mitsuhiko Shionoya Rocco Vitalone (Pennsylvania State University, Physics and Mathematics, Junior): Professor Ryo Shimano Niccolo Bigagli (Bates College, Physics and Mathematics, Junior): Professor Hirofumi Sakai UTSIP Kashiwa Program at UTokyo (1 U.S. student) Roxanne Lai (University of Southern California, Geological Sciences/Environmental Studies, Junior) GSP Program at UTokyo (3 students) Grace Pan (Yale University, Physics, Senior): Nanoscience Jeffrey Gau (Yale University: Mechanical Engineering, Senior): Nanoscience/Japanese Language Tianyi Dong (UC Berkeley, History, Sophomore): Japan in Today’s World Other Internship Programs at UTokyo (1 student) Meng Luo (UC Berkeley, Physics, Senior): Prof. Masaki Ando * The initial version of this article was posted on FUTI’s website on May 19, 2016. Articles in this newsletter:
With the ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A. as the financial sponsor, this year marked the first year of the ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A.-FUTI Scholarship program. Because this is a new program for FUTI which supports University of Tokyo students/alumni to study in a U.S. university for one semester or more, we were initially not certain as to whether an adequate number of applications would be submitted, but in the end we received many applications from highly capable students. This was surely made possible by the efforts of staff at the University of Tokyo administration, departments, and graduate schools, and to them we are very grateful. Although the scholarship is also open to U.S. university students wishing to study mid- to long-term at University of Tokyo, there were no applications from U.S. students this year. In reviewing the application submissions received in this first year, it became clear that there were three main targets. First, UTokyo students who, after graduation, wish to study at a U.S. university in a specific field such as architecture or design; second, those who have already graduated UTokyo and are currently studying at a U.S. university and in need of financial assistance; and third, UTokyo undergraduate students who for various reasons were not eligible in the UTokyo undergraduate study abroad system. All three categories reflect those who did not fit in the current UTokyo study abroad support system. The Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarship, which has a relatively early application deadline, is a popular scholarship that UTokyo undergraduate students apply to, but the scholarship has a restriction where recipients may not accept other scholarships exceeding the amount given by JASSO. This stipulation limits how much FUTI can award. Due to the large number of applications from highly qualified students, there was a reluctance among Scholarship Committee members for selecting only a very small number of award winners. Therefore, members of the Committee carefully considered all of the applicants, and as a result decided upon giving nearly full support to two students and partial support to eight, totaling in ten recipients. It was decided that the scholarship will only be for this academic year, even though there are students likely to continue their study next year. Those still requiring assistance for the following year were asked to reapply next year. Support for most of the recipients start in this fall semester, but some start in the summer semester and have already received their first payment. As we were able to select outstanding students, the ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A. and FUTI both share a sense of fulfillment. It is our hope that each of these highly qualified students will meet or even exceed our expectations. List of Scholarship Recipients The following list includes the student’s major, year (at the time of application) or year of graduation at/from UTokyo followed by the program at the US university where he or she plans to study under the support of the Ito U.S.A.-FUTI scholarship. UTokyo Doctoral Candidates: 2 students Xu, Bochen (Advanced Social and International Studies, Doctoral program, 2nd year): To be determined. Schumacher, Kim (Environmental Science, Doctoral program 3rd year): Government/ Comparative Policy, Harvard University UTokyo Past Graduates: 3 students Asai, Junpei (Master of Civil Engineering, 2015 ): Landscape Architecture, Master program, University of California Goto, Minami (Bachelor of Art History, 2015): Film /Creative Production, Master program, Columbia University Yamashita, Ayako ( Bachelor of Education, 2009): Social-Organizational Psychology, Master Program, Columbia University UTokyo Graduating Seniors: 2 students Nishikawa, Hiroya (Physics, Senior): Physics and Astronomy, Doctoral Program, Johns Hopkins University Furusawa, Eri (Architecture, Senior): Architecture and Urban Planning, Masters Program, Columbia University UTokyo Undergraduates: 3 students Kusakabe, Natsuki (International Relations, Sophomore): Undergraduate Exchange Program, University of Illinois Nishiyama, Nozomi (Mechanical Engineering, Sophomore): Undergraduate Exchange program, MIT Kim, Myeongok (PEAK /Natural Sciences II, Sophomore): Undergraduate Exchange Program, Swarthmore College * The initial version of this article was posted on FUTI’s website on May 19, 2016. Articles in this newsletter:
We have made a request to several of our donors in FY 2015-2016 to write a few words to students and alumni. The messages to be presented in the Newsletter 15 and the upcoming 16 (to be issued in the fall of 2016) are from those who graciously accepted. We hope that their messages will be appreciated and encourage a positive response to our 2016-17 annual fundraising campaign.
FUTI President, Prof. Masaaki Yamada gave a lecture titled “A Future Energy Source, Nuclear Fusion, and Study of Plasmas in the Universe” on March 11, 2016 at 6:30pm at the Nippon Club. Given the title, FUTI members and members of the alumni groups had anticipated a complex and difficult talk, but to our pleasant surprise the latest scientific discoveries were presented in a simple manner with the aid of beautiful photos and videos and had made the lecture very enjoyable. Prof. Yamada who is a Distinguished Laboratory Research Fellow of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), gave this lecture as a commemoration of his receiving the James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics in November 2015 (see the article in the FUTI Newsletter No. 14) in recognition “for fundamental experimental studies of magnetic reconnection relevant to space, astrophysical and fusion plasmas, and for pioneering contributions to the field of laboratory plasma astrophysics.” As the day marked the fifth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the lecture began with a moment of reflection for the victims, and a statement of resolve that science must make further advancements. The lecture proceeded with the following content. When the temperature rises, all matter transform from solid mass to liquid to gas and then to plasma. When gaseous matter is heated further, the atoms are ionized where the positive ions and electrons are separated, forming bouncing plasma. Examples found in everyday life are mostly molecular gases such as with neon tubes and fire, but they can still be considered plasma because of the charged particles from electrons and ions that exist even in small amounts. The sun itself is full of hot plasma, from the explosive solar flares that arch out near sunspots, to coronas, the luminescent aura that surrounds the sun. Lightning also contain dense plasma. In fusion energy research, nuclear fusion is made inside high temperature plasma and is anticipated to be the dream source of energy. Plasma experiments are 1) useful in nuclear fusion experiments, 2) helpful in comprehending the evolution of the universe, and 3) useful in explaining various phenomena with the Earth’s exosphere since it is made up of plasma. Normal matter (Baryonic Matter) made of protons and neutrons (also called Baryon) only occupy about 5 to 6% of matter which make up the universe while dark matter take up about 27% and dark energy about 68%. 90% of normal matter is in the state of plasma emitting light. Thus we can say most of visible universe is in plasma state. With the kind of small ratio of normal matter in the universe, one can say that the universe is mostly in its plasma state. A mutual interaction is formed where charged particles flying around in plasma create an electromagnetic field while the electromagnetic field controls the activities in the plasma. This interaction of magnetic energy with thermal energy from the plasma (kinetic energy) results in Magnetic Reconnection. The lines of magnetic force are reconnected frequently in the corona which is the plasma atmosphere of the sun, changing the magnetic field energy to plasma particle energy. Therefore, it makes the plasma accelerate or heat up. This is thought to be the reason why the corona, the sun’s atmosphere, reaches about 1,000,000 degrees Celsius while the sun’s surface temperature is only about 6,000 degrees Celsius. In addition, because of the Magnetic Reconnection, the kinetic energy from the heated plasma overwhelms the sun’s gravitational force resulting in a solar wind. The aurora which can be seen in the polar regions of the Earth is deeply rooted with Magnetic Reconnection. When a solar flare becomes active, the corona becomes active through Magnetic Reconnection and massive amounts of solar wind is directed toward the Earth. The solar wind reaches Earth in about two days carrying the magnetic line of force with it. This magnetic line of force interacts with the geomagnetism around the Earth and another Magnetic Reconnection occurs. This Magnetic Reconnection accelerates the plasma and increases the kinetic energy, colliding with the Earth’s atmospheric gases such as oxygen and nitrogen causing an electrical excitation and resulting in light emission. Without Magnetic Reconnection, the aurora will not happen. At Princeton University, Magnetic Reconnection is artificially induced through the MRX (Magnetic Reconnection Experiment) of which Prof. Yamada is a pivotal leader. The MRX was established 20 years ago and since then there have been numerous important research results and papers published. Furthermore, an even bigger FLARE (Facility for Laboratory Reconnection Experiment) is currently being built with the support of the NSF (National Science Foundation) and part of the Princeton University’s multi-million dollar budget. Nuclear fusion experiments have continued for decades as an ideal energy source, but it still has not reached practical use. Compared to the use of nuclear fission in nuclear reactors, radioactive pollution is far less and deuterium (a stable isotope of hydrogen with a mass approximately twice that of the usual isotope) used for fuel is contained abundantly in water. The reaction of deuterium+tritium becoming helium+neutron makes the mass slightly less allowing for the drawing out of fusion energy. In the beginning these experiments were a secret for each country, but after realizing difficulty in attaining practical use, experiments have been moving forward with international cooperation. The most promising donut-shaped device called the “Tokamak” gets its name from Russian. Even a company built on investments from venture capitalists called Tri Alpha Energy, Inc. has been established for further development. The most advanced program is the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) in Southern France with Europe, Japan, Russia, U.S.A., China, and Korea investing billions of dollars, but it is still estimated to take several years until completion. In conclusion, not only is plasma dynamic and beautiful, it is the key to solving the mysteries of the universe, the evolution of the universe, and cosmic research, and surely its research will gain even more importance in the field of astrophysics. Nuclear fusion encloses the hot plasma in a magnetic field but because…
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On May 17th, Professor Krishen Mehta (Senior Global Justice Fellow at Yale University) gave a lecture themed “The Panama Papers in Perspective ―- How Illicit Capital Flows Make Us All Vulnerable”. Since the Panama Papers are sensationally spurring a debate, 36 people, mainly University of Tokyo alumni, gathered to listen to the lecture by professor Mehta, who is a renowned expert in the field of international tax and accounting, and co-edited “Global Tax Fairness” (Oxford University Press). The lecture consisted of seven questions, the first of which was “what is a tax haven,” followed by the answers to those questions. Tax havens are areas or countries which have zero or low tax rates. Off-shore tax havens are estimated to be valued at $25 trillion while the US GDP is $18 trillion and Japan’s is $6 trillion. While the rate of growth of tax haven money is 10% annually, the GDP growth globally is 3%. The two countries who utilize tax havens and have accumulated wealth and high growth are the U.S. and the U.K. Professor Mehta pointed out that a tax haven is actually a system which exploits the poor or developing countries legally. Currently, wealth from these countries flow into the tax havens, strengthening the structure of disparity. The extensive presence of tax havens sinisterly affects law-abiding countries like Japan. Japanese companies pay 30% corporate tax. It would be difficult to compete with other foreign countries who pay much lower tax rates. Professor Mehta also presented several possible solutions to the current situation such as, “Financial secrecy must be reduced. Banks should keep track of money flow” and “We must protect whistle blowers.” In the end, he introduced a quote by Pascal “Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just”. After the lecture, many participants asked detailed questions to Professor Mehta and had a substantial discussion even with limited time. Written by Minami Goto Articles in this newsletter:
“Go Global 2016,” a fair to encourage UTokyo students to study abroad, was held at the Komaba Campus on May 27th (Fri) and 28th (Sat), 2016. The objectives of the Fair are to convey to UTokyo students the importance of studying abroad and experiencing different cultures, and to motivate and help them consider overseas study opportunities in the early years of their undergraduate studies. This is the sixth year since this annual fair was introduced in 2011. The plenary session for general information was held on the first day attended by about 450 students. On the second day, individual counseling sessions were provided by representatives from various departments and divisions of UTokyo, foreign governments’ affiliated organizations, and NGO/NPOs (both domestic and abroad). Approximately 300 students attended the sessions on the second day. In the plenary session, Mr. Shigeto Sonoda, Deputy Head of the International Division of UTokyo, gave a welcome speech followed by a talk by Mr. Yoshiaki Fujimori (Chairman and CEO of LIXIL, Inc.) He discussed the influence of his study abroad experience on his life and career, utilizing his own overseas study experience as an illustration. His lecture was followed by a panel discussion by students who had studied abroad. For the counseling sessions, 26 organizations including FUTI set up booths. They answered individual inquiries and gave advice to visitors. For the first time, individual counseling sessions included presentations by participating entities. Some parents of students participated in the second day session perhaps because it was held on a Saturday. With a large number of visitors keenly interested in study abroads, the Go Abroad 2016 was a huge success. The FUTI booth was visited by about 60 students during the four and a half hour period and was represented by the Hongo Campus Development Division Senior Director, Mr. Atsushi Sato; Staff Member, Mr. Tomohito Mitome; and FUTI Board Member, Dr. Shigenori Matsushita. Students seemed to find certain features appealing about FUTI such as the warm support coming from UTokyo alumni in America and the fact that there is freedom in selecting the foreign university of their choice. These extra benefits on top of financial support set FUTI apart from the other organizations. Additionally, the Ito Foundation USA-FUTI Scholarship which supports study abroad spanning one semester or longer seemed to attract many students who find it hard to participate in a summer program under the new four-quarter system. Those representing FUTI received a variety of comments and questions such as, “ Because the amount of FUTI Scholarship seems generous, I will seriously consider it,” and, “What are the selection criteria? Is the application/selection process competitive?” The Development Division staff report that more than 80% of participating students are freshmen or sophomores on the Komaba campus. Their interest in the Fair appears to indicate that the University’s policy which encourages more students to gain international experience, has begun to permeate among the UTokyo students. “The number of UTokyo students with serious interest in study abroad appear to have definitely increased over the last several years,” commented Mr. Sato. The following is a list of the 26 organizations/units that set up counseling booths on the second day. Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Recruitment Center for International Organizations Education USA/Fulbright Japan British Council Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Japan Embassy of Switzerland DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst; German Academic Exchange Service) Alberta Canada Office Friends of UTokyo, Inc. Campus France- French Government Study Abroad Office AIESEC in Japan (at UTokyo) UTOSAC (Overseas Study Advisory Community) /卒業生室 Council on International Educational Exchange-Japan (CIEE) Never-ending International work Campus Exchange (NICE) VIA (Volunteer in Asia) Stanford Program Study Abroad Foundation Bai Xian Asia Institute of Japan Uppsala University UTokyo Beijing Representative Office UTokyo India Office UTokyo Globalization Office UTokyo Graduate School of Information Science and Technology Hands-on Activities Program Promotion Team of UTokyo UTokyo Global Leadership Education Program The Go Global Office of UTokyo Written by Tomohito Mitome, Development Office, UTokyo Articles in this newsletter:
