TWO physics faculty members and two graduate students of the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology were among the recipients of the 2023 Sakura Science Exchange Program.

They are Prof. Rosario Reserva, Associate Prof. Sheila Gonzales, and MS Physics students Gladys Edilo and Maria Theresa Mae Micompal.

Prof. Kazuo Umemura of Tokyo University of Science in Kagurazaka Campus, Tokyo, Japan, hosted the program from September 5-16, 2023. It was funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency.

“Their participation in SSEP marks another chapter in the long-standing collaboration between TUS in Japan and MSU-IIT, which has been ongoing since 2015,” MSU-IIT said.

“This collaboration offers faculty and students the invaluable opportunity to explore Japan’s cutting-edge science and technology, as well as its rich culture,” it added.

The SSEP aims to support the development of talented human resources, promote collaboration and interaction, and strengthen diplomatic relations.

The program offered a wealth of experience in research and cultural experiences.

Participants engaged in various activities, including diatoms sampling in Chiba Prefecture, immersing themselves in state-of-the-art equipment at laboratories, visiting the Miraican-Museum for Tomorrow in Odaiba, and exploring the carbon nano tubes industrial facility in Yokohama City.