Govt institute announces winners of female researcher awards
17:56 JST, November 7, 2022
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The government-affiliated Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) announced the winners of this year’s awards for excellent female researchers on Sunday.
The Award for Brilliant Female Researchers was given to Meiji University’s Yasuka Toda, 39, who clarified the evolution of taste receptors of birds and primates, the JST said. Prize money of ¥1 million was sent to her from the Ashida Fund, which was established in 1994 by the late fashion designer Jun Ashida.
The University of Tokyo’s Kaori Sugihara, 39, who studies lipids in cell membranes and biosensors, received the JST President Award.
The Award for Organization Supporting Brilliant Female Researchers went to Tohoku University in Miyagi Prefecture, which is actively promoting women to senior positions.
In a lecture at the award ceremony held at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) in Tokyo on the day, Toda explained that ancestors of birds lost their sweet taste receptors but more than half of them can taste sugar with their umami taste receptors.
Primates came to like glutamic acid as they became larger and began to eat not only insects but also plant leaves, she also said.
Toda has worked as a researcher at major food maker Kikkoman Corp. while Sugihara engaged in research activities abroad for a long period of time.
“They can become role models [for young female researchers] also in terms of the diversity of their career paths,” said Masashi Yanagisawa, professor at the University of Tsukuba, who served as a juror for the awardee selection.
"Science & Nature" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Yellow Sand Observed in Tokyo, Osaka, Many Other Parts of Japan
-
Govt, U.S. Sign Deal to Send 2 Japanese Astronauts to the Moon; Toyota to Contribute to Artemis Program with Lunar Cruiser
-
Solar Panels Around Southern Japan’s Mt. Aso Stoke Fears Over Landscape; Local Govt Scrambles to Preserve Nature
-
Studying Dinosaurs for Humanity’s Future
-
Jellyfish Invade Venezuelan Waters, Worrying Fishermen
JN ACCESS RANKING
- M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
- Cherry Blossoms Draw Crowd to Tokyo’s Ueno Park; Viewing Season Kicks Off to Slow Start
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- Whaling Mother Ship Built in Japan for 1st Time in 73 Years