How do you protect native tropical forests in the Republic of Palau that help sustain life on Earth? Scientists from the Institute of Pacific Islands Foresty (IPIF) in Hilo, Hawai'i and communities in Palau are following nature’s lead. And that’s led to global recognition of the site’s biodiversity and the scientists’ research. In 2017, the Smithsonian added the forestry plot in Palau to their ForestGEO program. The forest monitoring plot research has united government officials, nonprofit organizations and community members to work towards restoring native tropical forests in Palau.

Companies and other organizations are constantly under threat from data hackers, but the cost to maintain vigilance can be greate. Cybersecurity Center for the Public Good at Tufts University now offers free help to nonprofit organizations in and around Boston and nationally.

With the increasing number of foreign residents, the importance of Japanese language education is on the rise. Starting from the academic year 2024, Kobe University has been designated as the Kinki regional hub school for MEXT’s “Japanese language teacher training and development promotion hub project.” This comes at a time when the landscape of teacher training is undergoing significant changes, such as the establishment of a national qualification for Japanese language teachers, which allows for “registered Japanese language teachers,” starting this year. What role will Kobe University play as a hub school in this evolving environment? We spoke with Professor ISHIKAWA Shin’ichiro of the Graduate School of Intercultural Studies, who is in charge of the project, about specific initiatives and future prospects.

The “Open Seminar” is a forum for dialogue between researchers and citizens on themes such as disaster prevention and recovery. Organized once a month by the Kobe University Research Center for Urban Safety and Security, its 300th session will be held in November 2024. The series started in May 1997, about two years after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. It was initiated by Professor Emeritus MUROSAKI Yoshiteru (then a professor at the Faculty of Engineering), who deeply felt the importance of disseminating information to the public after the disaster claimed the lives of over 6,000 people. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the disaster in January next year, starting this September, researchers from various fields will be invited each month to discuss the theme “30 years since the earthquake and the future.”

With the increasing impact of climate change becoming more and more tangible, achieving carbon neutrality—net-zero greenhouse gas emissions—has become an urgent priority.

The key is hydrogen, often referred to as the ultimate energy medium. Hydrogen does not emit carbon dioxide (CO₂) when burned and can be obtained from a variety of sources. In November 2023, Kobe University established the Research Center for Hydrogen Energy Technology (HyTec), which is engaged in research with an eye toward the future.

In today’s healthcare environment, there is an increasing focus on improving the efficiency of rehabilitation processes, given the rising number of injuries and the need to return to active life more quickly. In response to the need for innovation, Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania researchers, together with Inosport company, are developing an advanced adaptive rehabilitation system to improve the efficiency of rehabilitation and training processes.