The OIST Podcast

Okinawa and its surrounding waters represent what marine biologists call a "shark and ray hotspot" in terms of both diversity and conservation significance. In this episode of the OIST podcast, Dr. Fabienne Ziadi-Künzli, a marine biologist and shark researcher at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), explained that this region creates unique habitats for sharks throughout their d...

OIST's first exhib ition by a visiting artist transforms data on coral reef health into a thought-provoking artistic experience .   Hiromi Ozaki, known by her artist's name, Sputniko! , is a Japanese British artist combining art and technology to explore social issues. Her work integrates scientific concepts and emerging technologies to question perspectives and highlight important social and envi...

From delivering medicine to managing drone fleets, Vyorius CEO Nishant Singh Rana shares his startup journey and insights. He discusses how Vyorius evolved from a drone manufacturer to a rising innovator in unmanned systems management. One standout story is their collaboration with the Indian government during COVID-19, where drone deliveries in Manipur cut vaccine delivery times from 1.5 hours to...

In our latest OIST podcast episode, science communicator Merle Naidoo talks to Prof. Síle Nic Chormaic, head of OIST's Light-Matter Interactions for Quantum Technologies Unit . She joined the sixth cohort of Team Homeward Bound , spending 20 intense days of learning and networking on board the vessel Island Sky. Prof. Nic Chormaic explains how she secured the opportunity of a lifetime to visit the...

OIST COI-NEXT Symposium 2023, reported by the OIST Podcaster-in-Residence  Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence I...

OIST COI-NEXT Symposium 2023, reported by the OIST Podcaster-in-Residence  Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence I...

OIST COI-NEXT Symposium 2024, reported by the OIST Podcaster-in-Residence  Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence I...

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence Innovation Center" in 2023. One year after its establishment, how has the Ce...

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence Innovation Center" in 2023. One year after its establishment, how has the Ce...

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence Innovation Center" in 2023. One year after its establishment, how has the Ce...

This is third podcast episode where DJ Nick Luscombe, OIST Podcaster in Residence, checks out OIST's Visiting Program (TSVP). In this documentary, you will experience a day in the life of visiting researchers on the OIST campus. In the TSVP office area, we will meet the people who are running the program and hear from visitors about their research. Experience what it is like to be a part of the Vi...

In this latest episode of OIST's podcast featuring researchers from the OIST Global Bioconvergence Center of Innovation , a center dedicated to promoting mental, physical, and environmental health based on the "One World, One Health" approach, OIST Podcaster in Residence, DJ Nick Luscombe spoke with Prof. Kenji Doya, leader of the Neural Computation Unit . Prof. Doya and his team work to understan...

DJ Nick Luscombe, OIST Podcaster in Residence, checks out OIST's Visiting Program (TSVP). In this episode, he introduces the Thematic Programs that started last year as part of the TSVP. He talks to Dr. Samuel Ross, OIST researcher who is the scientific coordinator for the second the Thematic Program on "The Future of Response Diversity and Ecosystem Stability" in March 2024 and Dr. Harini Desiraj...

Embark on a journey into the future of healthcare with the fifth OIST podcast episode on the Global Bioconvergence Center of Innovation. DJ Nick Luscombe dives deep into groundbreaking research with Profs. Amy Shen and Keiko Kono, who are reshaping healthcare through microfluidic devices and anti-senescence supplements. From disease detection to food security, their work blurs the lines between sc...

In the latest episode of OIST's Global Bioconvergence Center podcast series , DJ Nick Luscombe speaks to the team managing the Global Bioconvergence Center of Innovation at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) about the highlights and challenges of pursuing the new center's long-term objectives. The core team ensures the smooth running of the center which allows exciting scientif...

In this episode of the OIST Podcast, we introduce listeners to the latest episode of New Ratio , a podcast by OIST Podcaster in Residence DJ Nick Luscombe. In this interview and performance recorded at OIST in August of 2023, Okinawan musician ARAGAKI Mutsumi demonstrates how she combines Okinawan sanshin and traditional singing with environmental recordings and electronica to produce soundscapes...

In the latest episode of our Global Bioconvergence Center of Innovation podcast series, DJ Nick Luscombe speaks with researchers from the OKEON Churamori Project , who use genomics, machine learning and acoustic monitoring to gain new insights into ecosystem health. Get more information at the Global Bioconvergence Center of Innovation .

In this second episode of the Global Bioconvergence Center of Innovation podcast series, DJ Nick Luscombe discusses coral reef research at OIST with Prof. Nori Satoh and Prof. Timothy Ravasi . From field trips to exotic places, to the valuable support of local Okinawans, it's a fascinating journey!  

Delve into the first episode of a six-part series on the innovative research conducted at the Global Bioconvergence Center of Innovation. DJ Nick Luscombe, OIST Podcaster in Residence, talks to Prof. Tom Froese, leader of the Embodied Cognitive Science Unit at OIST. They discuss the center's research on mental health and what mental well-being means today. Check out the Global Bioconvergence Cente...

DJ Nick Luscombe, OIST Podcaster in Residence, checks out OIST's Theoretical Sciences Visiting Program (TSVP). In this episode, he talks to Dr. Jonas Fischer, TSVP Academic Coordinator, and Prof. Simone Pigolotti to learn more about the program. He also interviews the guest researchers visiting OIST as part of the program and asks them about their experiences at OIST. Check out the TSVP's website:...

In episode #9 of the Connectomics podcast, Mark sits down with neuroscientist and philosopher Andrea Hiott. In this episode they talk about Andrea's work in providing a new metaphor for understanding cognition: cognition as navigation or way-making. As well as exploring what exactly is meant by the claim that cognition is way-making, they explore how this intersects with contemporary views within...

In episode #8 of the Connectomics podcast, Mark sits down with cognitive scientist and ethical AI researcher, Dr. Abeba Birhane.   In this episode , they talk about Abeba's work auditing large image datasets, how they have discovered racial biases in these data sets,  and what the implications of that are.   They also talk about Abeba's work in embodied cognitive science, and how the understanding...

Prof. Paola Laurino leads the Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). Fascinated by proteins, she has spent much of her career looking at the structure, function, and evolution of enzymes, a group of proteins that facilitates vital chemical reactions for living organisms. At the end of 2021, Prof. Laurino's group publish...

In episode #6 of the Connectomics podcast, Mark speaks with philosopher of embodied cognitive science, Dr. Mog Stapleton.  Mog is presently a visiting researcher at OIST, and is working on understanding the relationship between cognition and the gut-brain axis.  In this episode, they talked about the role of aesthetics in the production of knowledge, the relationship between enaction and the empir...

In episode #5 of the Connectomics podcast, Mark speaks with sustainability researcher Roope Kaaronen.  Roope is a postdoc at the University of Helsinki, Finland.  In this episode, they talked about Roope's fortuitous introduction to ecological psychology and its value to his present work, his present work on strategic design interventions for large scale behaviour change/cultural evolution, the ch...