Thursday, June 27th, 2019
Science and Technology
MEXT Minister Shibayama Masahiko visited the city of Tsukuba in Ibaragi Prefecture on June 27th to inspect the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS).
At the KEK, Minister Shibayama inspected the SuperKEKB accelerator, a facility which collides electrons with positrons to recreate the initial phenomena of the universe to discover and elucidate new physical laws. The minister also inspected the synchrotron radiation testing facility which aims to elucidate the structure and function of materials including biological samples.
At the NIED, the minister inspected the Monitoring of Waves on Land and Seafloor (MOWLAS) which gathers and analyses real data from about 2,100 observation points nationwide. He also inspected a large rainfall testing facility which can freely control the amount of rainfall from misty rainfall to Guerilla-heavy rains now extensively used in landslide research and testing autonomous driving technology. Finally, the minister received an explanation on the Multi-Parameter Radar analysis facility which uses electric waves to accurately determine the amount of rainfall by analyzing the rain intensity and the shape of rain drops such as Guerilla-heavy rainfall.
Minister Shibayama said he hopes the research will be utilized for disaster prevention and asked the staff to place priority on developing ways to notify citizens on disaster control information.
At the NIMS, the minister received an explanation on the ongoing development of a materials data platform using the world’s largest materials database, Artificial Intelligence used to predict the best materials and processes based on the quality of performance needed, and material development technology based on data science.
Minister Shibayama also inspected the micro-miniature high sensitivity sensor which converts “smell” into information capable of interpretation by machines and humans.
MEXT will work to further enhance support for projects underway at the various organizations.
※ Link to the Inter-University Research Institute Corporation High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK)
※ Link to The National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED)
※ Link to The National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Photo 1 MEXT Minister inspecting the KEK
Photo 2 At the KEK
Photo 3 MEXT Minister inspecting the NIED
Photo 4 At the NIED
Photo 5 At the NIED
Photo 6 MEXT Minister inspecting the NIMS
Photo 7 At the NIMS
Photo 8 At the NIMS