NEW
Qdai-mail Tsushin #097
The e-mail magazine "Qdai-mail Tsushin" delivers campus news every month.
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Friday, February 27, 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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* Recognition ceremony held for the Indian Alumni Association of Kyushu University (IAQ)
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On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, a recognition ceremony was held for the Indian Alumni Association of Kyushu University (IAQ). The association was officially registered as one of Kyushu University's overseas alumni associations in February 2025.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/682
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* Recognition ceremony held for the Kyushu University Alumni Association of the Philippines (Kyōdaikai)
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On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, a recognition ceremony was held for the Kyushu University Alumni Association of the Philippines (Kyōdaikai). The association was officially registered as one of Kyushu University's overseas alumni associations in May 2025.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/683
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* Kyushu University Forum "KYUDAI NOW" (Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad)
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On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies (Q-AOS) hosted the Kyushu University Forum "KYUDAI NOW" at Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IITH), India.
https://q-aos.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/events/events_view.php?cId=1998
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* Durham University professor visits Kyushu University — strengthening collaboration through international university consortium and university-level agreement
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On January 19 (Mon) and 20 (Tue), 2026, Kyushu University welcomed Professor Del Atkinson (Applied Physics) from Durham University, UK, through the framework of both RENKEI—the Japan–UK international university consortium to which Kyushu University belongs—and the bilateral university-level academic and student exchange agreement. Professor Atkinson's two‑day visit aimed to enhance academic exchange and research collaboration in the fields of international engagement and condensed‑matter physics. During his stay, he engaged in productive discussions with Kyushu University faculty members and students.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/687
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* Korea-Japan Youth Leaders Forum 2026 welcomes 80 students at Kyushu University
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January 20-21, 2026 — Kyushu University hosted the Korea-Japan Youth Leaders Forum 2026 on the Ito Campus, welcoming about 80 students from the Korean university student network GUKIN and Kyushu University. This marks the largest forum to date and the third time Kyushu University has served as the host.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/688
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* Delegation from Seoul National University Graduate School of Environmental Studies visits Kyushu University
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On Friday, February 6, 2026, a delegation from the Graduate School of Environmental Studies (GSES) at Seoul National University (SNU), led by Dean Sun‑Jin Yun, visited Kyushu University's Ito Campus. Hosted by Associate Professor Toshinori Tanaka of the Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies (Q-AOS), the visit aimed further to strengthen research collaboration between Q-AOS and SNU's GSES.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/689
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* Announcement on the selection of Kyushu University's next presidential candidate
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On Thursday, February 19, 2026, the Kyushu University President Selection and Oversight Committee decided on Dr. Koichi Akashi (Senior Vice President and Research Professor) as the candidate for the next President and held a press conference.
The term of office of the next President will be six years, from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2032. (Reappointment is not permitted.)
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/692
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* Kyushu University Forum "KYUDAI NOW Bangkok"
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On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Kyushu University held the forum "KYUDAI NOW Bangkok" in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Organized by the Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies (hereafter Q-AOS), this forum marked the third time the event has been held in Thailand, following those in 2023 and 2024. This year's forum was co-organized in collaboration with King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT). The event was supported and endorsed by the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, the Kyushu University Thai Alumni Club, the Club "Gao" Thailand Alumni Association, and the JSPS Bangkok Research Center. Nearly 100 participants attended, including representatives from Thai universities and research institutions, including KMUTT, industry partners, Kyushu University alumni, and former students who had studied in Japan.
https://q-aos.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/events/events_view.php?cId=2504
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**Research
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* Vaping zebrafish suggest E-cigarette exposure disrupts gut microbial networks and neurobehavior
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E-cigarettes are attracting growing numbers of users, including teenagers, yet their health effects remain poorly understood. Researchers at Kyushu University found that e-cigarette vapor—regardless of nicotine content—released carcinogens, such as formaldehyde, and disrupted gut microbiome stability in zebrafish, reducing certain beneficial bacteria while increasing xenobiotic degradation-associated microbes. Exposed fish also showed impaired behavioral responses. The findings raise concerns about inadequately disclosed e-cigarette ingredients and highlight the need for greater transparency and evidence-based regulation.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/372
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* New species of ladybird beetle discovered on Kyushu University campus
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Researchers at Kyushu University discovered a new ladybird beetle species, Parastethorus pinicola, on a pine tree at their Hakozaki Satellite. The finding was part of a major taxonomic review of the tribe Stethorini in Japan involving 1,700 specimens. The study describes two new species and corrects long-standing classification errors, proving that unknown biodiversity can still be found in the middle of a city—even on a university campus.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/369
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* Understanding how cancer cells use water pressure to move through the body
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Cancer cells often invade different tissues by forming rounded protrusions called blebs. However, the exact mechanism behind this expansion remained unclear. Now, researchers at Kyushu University have discovered that cancer cells use protein clusters to create water pressure inside blebs, which pushes the cell membrane outward enabling rapid movement. This newly identified mechanism, named "CaMKII based osmotically driven deformation or CODE," reveals a unique physical process that drives the spread of cancer cells inside the body.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/371
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* Shared e-mopeds and equity implications: Insights from trip-level data in Fukuoka, Japan
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Shared e-mopeds are emerging as a solution for medium-distance trips, but do they improve efficiency and equity? A study in Japan found that they cut travel time and distance compared with public transit, especially in lower land-price areas with limited bus and rail service. Yet time-based pricing means these residents often pay more. Researchers recommend revising pricing models and expanding infrastructure to create transport systems that are fairer, more resilient, and more accessible for all.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/374
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**Notice
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* Kyushu University welcomes Dr. Sunita Satyapal as a Special Advisor to the President
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Kyushu University appointed Dr. Sunita Satyapal, an international leader in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells, as Special Advisor to the President, effective January 1, 2026. While based in the United States and continuing her overseas activities, Dr. Satyapal will provide strategic advice to Kyushu University through part‑time remote engagement. Her guidance will strengthen the university's international research capacity and advance initiatives toward a hydrogen-based society.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/notices/view/523
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**Event
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* FY2025 8th & 9th I²CNER Seminar
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Date: 2026.03.04 [Wed] 15:00 – 17:00
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I²CNER) will hold the 8th & 9th I²CNER Seminars for FY2025, featuring Professor Shuhuai Yao from the the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Professor Nicola Helen Perry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. We look forward to your participation.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/events/view/620
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* I²CNER Seminar "Metaphotonics for Next-Generation Optical Devices ~From Plasmonics and Metamaterials to Strong Light–Matter Interactions~"
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Date: 2026.03.11 [Wed] 15:00 – 16:00
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I²CNER) will hold the 10th I²CNER Seminar for FY2025, featuring Professor Koichi Okamoto from Osaka Metropolitan University. We look forward to your participation.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/events/view/621
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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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