DATE2025.04.08 #Awards & Prizes
Researchers Keisuke Goda and Tianben Ding received The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Professor Keisuke Goda
Assistant Professor Tianben Ding
Professor Keisuke Goda and Assistant Professor Tianben Ding of the Department of Chemistry have received The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in the Science and Technology Promotion Category. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) awards this prize to individuals or groups for outstanding contributions to promoting science and technology through remarkable achievements in various fields, such as research on the societal importance of research and development. The award was also given to key members of the group led by Professor Goda, including Professor Dino Di Carlo from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Associate Professor Takuro Ito from the National Institute of Technology, Tsuruoka College.
In modern scientific research, especially in biomedical fields, interdisciplinary research integrating advanced technologies from diverse academic disciplines is essential. Moreover, fostering the next generation of researchers who will lead the development of science and technology requires a research environment that promotes open science and transcends the traditional closed confines of the laboratory.
Professor Goda established a new research organization, Serendipity Lab, to enable continuous exchange among top-class researchers from various countries, thus expanding research activities conducted independently at universities and research institutes to the Pacific region and worldwide. Under this organization, Serendipity Lab has established a framework for frequent opportunities to exchange ideas, including but not limited to researcher visits, seminars, workshops, and international symposiums
These activities gave birth to numerous international joint research networks and projects, which led to the publishing of many internationally co-authored papers, including some of the world's top 10% papers. In addition, the organization has been cultivating an environment that promotes flexible approaches to research based on diverse perspectives, which fosters talented young researchers who will lead the next generation. These efforts have been received positively by the scientific community as a new system to train young researchers.
Serendipity Lab has significantly contributed to developing interdisciplinary and international biomedical engineering research. These achievements make Professor Goda and Assistant Professor Ding deserving recipients of The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in the Science and Technology Promotion Category.
We would like to congratulate Professor Goda and Assistant Professor Ding on their awards and wish them continued success in their future endeavors.
（Written by Tatsuya Tsukuda, Professor/Director, Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science）