On February 15, Tohoku University and Université de Lorraine (France) held their Progress Reports Meeting 2022 online. This event was the second progress report meeting. The first was held online last March.
The Progress Reports session opened with remarks from Université de Lorraine’s President Pierre Mutzenhardt. Representatives from three joint research projects which have received matching funds since 2020, and one project that has received seed money since 2020, reported on the progress of their research, achievements, and their expected future developments. During each session, young researchers also presented some of their more remarkable research achievements.
About 50 researchers and graduate students from both universities were in attendance. Included among the participants from Tohoku University were President Hideo Ohno, Executive Vice President Motoko Kotani (Research), Executive Vice President Toshiya Ueki (International), and Vice President Masahiro Yamaguchi (Global Engagement). Those from Université de Lorraine included President Pierre Mutzenhardt, Vice President Karl Tombre (International), Vice President Frédéric Villiéras (Research), and Nathalie Fick, Director of the International Relations Office.
The spread of COVID-19 has greatly restricted international travel since 2020, and as a result it was necessary for changes to be made to many research plans. However, the groups reported that they are responding in flexible ways such as by making use of online facilities to deepen their discussions, and despite the difficulties, they are all achieving results in a steady fashion. There were further comments that the experience of going through this difficult situation has reaffirmed for them the significance and importance of face-to-face research exchange.
In their closing remarks, President Ohno of Tohoku University and President Mutzenhardt of Université de Lorraine announced their continued support for the four projects funded by this program. Tohoku University will continue to support the development of joint research between the two universities through the joint research fund.