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Qdai-mail Tsushin#103
The e-mail magazine "Qdai-mail Tsushin" delivers campus news every month.
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Friday, August 28, 2026
Kyushu U's CONNECT Issue 7: Our annual English university magazine is available from the link below!
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/university/publicity/publications/connect
Kyushu U Connect: Keep up to date on how Kyushu U is engaging with society.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/university/connect/
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**Topics
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* Kyushu University Summer Course 2026 concludes successfully
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Kyushu University successfully completed its pilot Summer Course 2026, welcoming 20 students from partner universities in Singapore and Taiwan. Over two weeks, participants studied robotics, entrepreneurship, and energy through lectures, hands-on projects, research facility visits, and cultural exchange activities. The program provided academic credit and highlighted Kyushu University’s strengths in education, innovation, and international collaboration.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/719
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* Kyushu University hosts the 2026 Japan-U.S. Semiconductor UPWARDS Summer Student Exchange Program
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From July 28 to August 5, 2026, Kyushu University hosted seven students from five U.S. universities through the Japan-U.S. Semiconductor UPWARDS Summer Student Exchange Program. Participants engaged in laboratory research, attended industry lectures, and toured advanced semiconductor facilities. The program fostered hands-on learning, international exchange, and collaboration, supporting the development of future semiconductor leaders in Japan and the United States.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/720
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**Research
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* Plasma Agriculture makes strides towards super-seeding conventional methods
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Researchers from Kyushu University and Nagoya University have reviewed the rapidly growing field of “Plasma Agriculture,” where low-temperature plasma treatment is used to enhance seed growth and resilience. Analyzing data from more than 30 crop species, they found that properly controlled plasma treatments improved seed vigor and crop yields in over two-thirds of studies, highlighting its potential as a sustainable solution to future global food security challenges.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/409
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* Scientists find compound that may help muscles stay strong as we age
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Researchers at Kyushu University have discovered a compound called lipoic acid trisulfide (LASSS) that strengthens HGF, a protein that drives muscle repair but can lose its function with age. LASSS protects HGF from this age-related damage while also enhancing its ability to trigger repair. The team hopes the findings could lead to treatments for age-related muscle loss in humans and companion animals, supporting longer, healthier lives.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/410
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* Selective microwave heating speeds bamboo-to-hydrogen fuel conversion
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Microwave-assisted catalytic reactors can convert biomass into useful gases such as hydrogen much faster than conventionally heated ones, and researchers from Kyushu University, Japan, have captured evidence of why. Using advanced X-ray techniques to observe the catalyst in real time, the team showed that microwaves create tiny, localized hot spots on nickel catalyst particles, accelerating the catalytic reaction. The team hopes to establish an electrified, high-efficiency pathway for carbon-neutral biomass conversion.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/415
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* Inter-filamentary diffuse gas flows replenish dense filaments and sustain gas accretion onto hubs, promoting massive star formation
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In hub-filament systems, radially converging filaments are known to channel dense gas into hubs where massive stars form, but the contribution of inter-filamentary diffuse gas has remained unclear. In this study, researchers mapped gas motions in the Monoceros R2 star-forming region using carbon monoxide observations. They found that diffuse intrafilamentary gas not only flows directly toward the central hub but also replenishes dense filaments, substantially increasing the total gas reservoir available for massive star
formation.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/407
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* How 'smart' hydrogel packaging tells you if your food is still fresh
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Researchers at Kyushu University have developed a smart hydrogel film that changes color to signal food spoilage in real time. By immobilizing anthocyanins, a natural plant pigment, onto a metal-organic framework, the team stabilized the pigment against light and heat while preserving its pH sensitivity. Flexible, largely biodegradable, and able to seal its own surface cuts, the film offers a reliable, objective way to assess food quality and extend shelf life.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/403
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* Natural insecticide made by nanoemulsification of compounds found in garlic and spearmint found to be effective on adzuki bean beetles with low non-target impacts
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Diallyl disulfide is an organosulfur compound derived from garlic, and R-carvone is a monoterpenoid derived from spearmint. Researchers processed these compounds into oil-in-water nanoemulsions and applied it to the adzuki bean beetle—a known legume pest. The researchers found that the nanoemulsions were highly toxic against the pest, suggesting that they could be a promising environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pest-control agents.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/416
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* Scientists 'see' nanoscale forces, providing evidence of electric fields at the air‑water interface
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A Kyushu University‑led team has provided direct evidence for the electric field long suspected to drive fast chemistry at water surfaces. By trapping water and air inside a carbon nanotube and imaging the interface in 3D, they resolved its shape at the nanoscale. The researchers then deduced forces exceeding classical predictions, consistent with a powerful electric field. This methodology could guide rational design of nanoporous materials for clean energy.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/417
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* The framing of nature changes how kids respond to environmental education
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A study from Japan finds that how educators frame environmental ethics can shape learning outcomes. Surveying students across 21 elementary schools, researchers found they responded more strongly, at least in the short term, when nature was framed around what it does for them rather than around its value in itself. The researchers hope the finding will encourage educators to think as carefully about how ethics are framed as they do about what content to teach.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/419
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**Notice
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* Call for Participation – SDGs Design International Awards 2026
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Kyushu University’s Faculty of Design invites students worldwide to participate in the SDGs Design International Awards 2026, an international competition seeking innovative ideas for a sustainable and inclusive future. The competition welcomes submissions in areas such as graphic design, products, services, fashion, architecture, urban planning, and social innovation. This year’s themes focus on resilient communities and well-being, green design and climate action, and blue sustainability related to oceans and water resources. Students from all disciplines, including non-design fields, are encouraged to apply. The application period runs from August 1 to September 15, 2026..
https://www.design.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/31662/
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* Kyushu University pilots telemedicine program to support pregnant women in conflict-affected Sudan: Supporting the restoration of maternal and child health services through Portable Health Clinic (PHC)
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Kyushu University’s Global Healthcare Team and the NGO Rocinantes have launched a pilot telemedicine program in conflict-affected Sudan to support pregnant women through the Portable Health Clinic (PHC) system. The initiative enables local health workers to conduct basic antenatal checkups and connect patients with doctors remotely. Implemented with Sudanese and international partners, the project delivered 372 antenatal care visits, 19 telemedicine consultations, and 239 prescriptions between February and April 2026. The results suggest that digital healthcare solutions can help sustain maternal and child health services in underserved and conflict-affected communities.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/notices/view/537
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* Response to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake
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Following the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake on July 28, Kyushu University expressed its sympathy to those affected, acknowledged ongoing recovery efforts, and pledged continued support while encouraging students and staff to seek counseling services if needed.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/notices/view/540
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* Call for Entries: 2026 Asia Digital Art Award FUKUOKA (ADAA)
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The 2026 Asia Digital Art Award FUKUOKA (ADAA), organized primarily by Kyushu University, is now accepting entries from creators worldwide. Since 2001, ADAA has promoted digital art that combines artistic creativity with logical thinking. The competition includes General and Student categories across still images, moving images, interactive art, and entertainment. Applications are open from June 24 to September 9, 2026, with award-winning works to be exhibited at the Fukuoka Art Museum in March 2027.
https://www.design.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/31813/
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* Crowdfunding launched
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Kyushu University has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support research on rare craniofacial disorders using zebrafish models. Led by Associate Professor William Ka Fai Tse, the project aims to uncover how genetic mutations affect facial development, contributing to improved diagnosis and treatment. The campaign runs through September 29, 2026.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/notices/view/542
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**Discover the Research
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* What naked mole-rats can teach us about healthy longevity
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Naked mole-rats are remarkable rodents that can live for more than 30 years while showing exceptional resistance to cancer and many age-related diseases. Researchers at Kyushu University are investigating the unique biological mechanisms behind their healthy aging, including distinctive cellular responses and inflammation control. Insights from this research could help develop new strategies to extend healthy human lifespan and prevent age-related illnesses such as cancer.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/research/information/discover-research/016_miura
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**EVENTS
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* Horizon Europe - Explanation of Program and Testimonial
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Date:2026.09.11 [Fri] 14:00 – 15:45
Kyushu University will host an information session on Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research funding program. Learn about funding opportunities, application procedures, and researchers’ experiences with Horizon Europe projects.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/events/view/659
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* Q-AOS Brown Bag Seminar Series
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Date: Every Wednesday 12:10 – 12:50
Every Wednesday during lunch, learn about research related to SDGs in Asian and Oceanian regions and expand your research network at the Q-AOS Brown Bag Seminar Series. The webinar is free, available in English and Japanese, and open to everyone!
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/events?tag_id=2
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**Introduction to Alumni Platform "Kyudai PAL"(Free registration)
"Kyudai PAL" (abbreviated as KyuPAL) is a closed online platform where alumni and current students can easily connect with friends and the university
In addition to interacting with other members in communities organized by graduation department, industry, and club, members can receive news about the university and information about alumni events, send direct messages, and participate in group chats with other users.
*Registration application, Kyudai PAL details here(Free registration)
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/university/graduate/kyupal
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** Stay Connected
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https://www.facebook.com/KyushuUniv.en/
https://x.com/KyushuUniv_en
https://www.instagram.com/kyushuuniversity/
https://www.youtube.com/user/KyushuUniv
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