Overview of Operational Plan

At the Institute of Living Sciences, we aim to contribute to the improvement of people’s lives and the progress and development of local communities through academic research and education on various issues and phenomenon related to people’s lives. As the Institute of Living Sciences celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, we plan to undertake a number of commemorative projects throughout the year. These include the publication of Bulletin of Living Sciences, Vol. 49 (50th Anniversary Edition), regular meetings of our internal and external researchers, a special research symposium, and open lectures to commemorate the 50th anniversary. We will also create a dedicated 50th Anniversary webpage on the Institute’s website. In addition, we will continue to enhance the dissemination of information through our website, as in previous years, and will select the recipient of the Keiichi Mizushima Prize from among the papers published in the Bulletin of Living Sciences.

Main Operations

1. Publication of the Research Bulletin, Bulletin of Living Sciences, Vol.49 (50th Anniversary Edition)
The bulletin will contain papers, research notes and resources that are produced as the result of research in the living sciences and related fields.

2. Operation of the Institute and Planning and Hosting of Regular Study Groups and Research Presentation
We will plan and hold monthly meetings with the Institute’s researchers. These will be focused on the discussion of the Institute’s various operations and reporting on the progress of research activities conducted by each researcher, visiting researcher and associate researcher. There will be time allocated for researchers to provide topics around their research activities in turns and for reporting on the Institute’s research activities. We will also report on the progress of joint research projects. As previous years, we are planning to hold a research presentation in December as an opportunity for internal and external researchers to present their research results to the public.

3. Improvement of the Institute of Living Sciences Website
We will continue to update the Institute’s website regularly in order to disseminate our research achievements and educational activities to audiences in Japan and overseas. We will strive to ensure that the website remains comprehensive and up to date while systematically improving its design and expanding its functionality. We will also post information on calls for applications, events, and other Institute-related activities in a news format to ensure that information is easy to find and access.
　
As 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Institute of Living Sciences, we will create a dedicated 50th Anniversary website as one of our commemorative projects. The website will present the Institute’s history and development together with its accumulated research achievements. It will also provide a systematic overview of the Institute’s history, major research accomplishments, the activities of past members, and related materials.

4. Taking in New Researchers
We will continue to take in researchers and visiting researchers during FY2026. Both are required to submit a research plan and research results report (at the end of the fiscal year), focused on the research involved at the Institute. As in the previous year, we will utilise the online application system and accept applications during the same period as in previous years.

5. Planning and Holding Open Seminar
As previous years, we are planning to organise and hold an open seminar for the public. We will discuss the timing of the event at future meetings of the three boards and at regular meetings. We plan to hold it mainly face-to-face, but also consider the possibility of holding it in a highly flexible format with online access.

6. Planning and Conducting Research Project (9)
We plan to launch Research Project (9) in 2026. As in previous years, funding of up to ¥400,000 per year will be available for each project, with a maximum project duration of three years. We are currently inviting research proposals and plan to select the successful project by the end of June 2026.

7. Selection and Awarding of Keiichi Mizushima Prize
We will select the winning paper for the Institute’s Keiichi Mizushima Prize (established in 2016) and award a young researcher for the outstanding research achievements (selection will be made from the papers submitted to the Institute’s research bulletin). We have selected the total of four awardees so far: the first in the FY2017, the second in the FY2019, and the third in the FY2023. There were no awardees in FY2025. We plan to continue selecting and awarding the fourth awardee in FY2026.