The ECR* Collaboration Lab 2026, organized by the UK-Japanese university consortium RENKEI, was held from May 25 to 29. A pre-event was held at Sophia University on the 25th, and academic sessions were held at Tohoku University from the 26th to the 29th. Thirty early career researchers from RENKEI member universities participated.
RENKEI has hitherto held academic workshops on the themes of climate change and health, but this year, they were renamed ‘ECR Collaboration Labs’. The May event was held as an inter-disciplinary event with a focus on helping early career researchers to network.
The theme for this year was ‘Beyond Boundaries: Exploring New Academic Frontiers of Space’, and sessions were held with the aim of exploring the opportunities and responsibilities associated with three ‘new frontiers’: ocean space, cyberspace, and outer space. The participants considered the responsibilities and international legalities that accompany rapid technological development.
The Marine Studies session was chaired by Prof. Toshio Suga, Director of the Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC); the International Law session was chaired by EVP Toshiya Ueki, who is also Director of the Center for International Law and Policy; and the Aerospace session was chaired by Prof. Toshinori Kuwahara, Director of the Green Goals Initiative’s Research Center for Space Cross-Tech. Each session included presentations, discussions, and group work by researchers from Tohoku University and other RENKEI members, giving participants the opportunity to network with researchers from outside their own areas of expertise.
On May 29, a Steering Committee Meeting was also held. Twenty-six participants, including vice presidents and coordinators from RENKEI member institutions and representatives from the British Council, which serves as the RENKEI secretariat, enjoyed lively discussions about plans and proposals for RENKEI’s future activities and budgeting.
*Early Career Researcher
A group photo of all participants
The Steering Committee members
EVP Ueki speaking at the Steering Committee Meeting
Participants enjoy the AIMEC session
Contact:
Global Engagement Division, Tohoku University
Email: kokusai-k@grp.tohoku.ac.jp