May 22, 2018
On March 9, the University of Southern California (USC) and Kobe University held the second joint research symposium at our University’s Honolulu Office (HOKU). This collaboration is based on an academic exchange agreement concluded in February 2016 between USC and Kobe University’s Graduate School of System Informatics, Graduate School of Engineering and Education Center on Computational Science and Engineering (ECCSE). The event aimed to further strengthen our University’s network in the Americas.
From USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering we welcomed Professor Erik Johnson, Professor Joseph Wang, and Professor Aiichiro Nakano. From Kobe University the event was attended by Professor Hideyuki Usui, Professor Shigenori Tanaka and Assistant Professor Kohei Shimamura (Graduate School of System Informatics), Professor Hideo Fujitani and Associate Professor Yoichi Mukai (Graduate School of Engineering), Associate Professor Yohei Miyake (ECCSE) and Assistant Professor Mai Ito (Organization for Advanced and Integrated Research). Participants introduced their ongoing research initiatives and results during the first day, in a morning session on computational space physics followed by two afternoon sessions on molecular dynamics analysis and structural engineering. The next day, the participants split into groups based on their research fields to hold focused discussions. They shared opinions on strengthening future collaboration with USC, promoting international joint research projects, and co-authoring papers.
It has been two years since the University of Southern California x Kobe University joint research kick-off symposium was held in March 2016 at Kobe University. This year’s event provided a space to present the fruits of our research collaboration. It was also an opportunity for cross-disciplinary debate with Kobe University’s Graduate School of System Informatics, Graduate School of Engineering and ECCSE that surpassed the traditional boundaries between academic fields. This symposium has contributed to maintaining and expanding the academic research network between our institutions, ensuring that we continue to build upon the success of this international collaboration.

(Graduate School of System Informatics, Graduate School of Engineering
and Education Center on Computational Science and Engineering)