WIAS’s second Homecoming Day event was held on January 11, 2025. The purpose of Homecoming Day is to build a network between current researchers (current members) and alumni (former members) of the institute. This year, programs were planned and implemented to facilitate interactive communication in each session. As a result, active discussions were held on a wide range of topics, including lab management, career development, and interdisciplinary exchange, allowing for successful networking with researchers from various fields.

This year’s Homecoming Day contents were proposed by WIAS Chief Secretaries. Dr. Hung Shao-Min (Humanities) suggested a program that would encourage participants to easily connect with one another. The event featured flash talks, where current members introduced their research briefly, and alumni panel discussion, where three representatives from the alumni were interviewed with various questions related to research. During the initial planning phase, Dr. Yuko Sato (Social Sciences), who was a member at the time, contributed many ideas, and once the overall direction was decided, Dr. Ling Liu (Social Sciences) joined the team. To make the coffee breaks between sessions enjoyable, Dr. Yuya Ominato (Natural Sciences) focused on preparing sweets and coffee. Under the cooperation of the WIAS office staff and WIAS Events Committee members, the Chief Secretaries coordinated closely to prepare for the event.

The event began in the meeting room on the second floor of Okuma Kaikan with opening remarks by the Chief Secretaries, followed by the first round of flash talks. Current WIAS members, Dr. Robert Fahey, Dr. Jing Kang, Dr. Osman Sabri Kiratli, and Dr. Jessy Escande conducted concise research presentations, each consisting of a 5-minute talk and a 5-minute Q&A session. The Q&A sessions saw lively discussions, and the flash talks proved highly effective in fostering connections.
Following the talks, we moved to the first coffee break which provided a relaxed atmosphere where participants enjoyed coffee and sweets while engaging in casual interactions.

The alumni panel discussion featured Dr. Shinsuke Suzuki (Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University), Dr. Akihiro Tanaka (Professor, Department of Psychology, Tokyo Women’s Christian University), and Dr. Christoph Rademacher (Professor, Faculty of Law, Waseda University). They were asked a wide range of questions by current members about research life, offering insightful and valuable perspectives. After another coffee break, the second round of flash talks took place with presentations by Dr. Rhythm Shimakawa, Dr. Tatsuhiko Shirai, Dr. Yun Jung Yang, and Dr. Tony Cheng, following the same format as the first session. Other than the flash talks, poster presentations were displayed in the venue.
The event concluded with closing remarks by WIAS Director Professor Atsushi Takeuchi, marking the end of all sessions.

Afterwards, a standing buffet party was held which started with a toast by former WIAS Director Professor Ken-ichi Akao. Participants deepened their connections while enjoying food and drinks. Finally, the event concluded with a summary comment by WIAS Adviser Professor Hideaki Miyajima (Executive Vice President for Financial Affairs, Waseda University).

Homecoming Day proved to be a highly effective opportunity to deepen the connections between current members and alumni. The emphasis on planning to promote interaction throughout the event paid off. Broad networking not only broadens research perspectives but also plays a vital role in securing positions as researchers.
Although Homecoming Day is still a relatively young event, being only its second iteration, its continued development is expected to further refine its content.
Lastly, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved. The event was made possible through the cooperation of researchers, administrative staff, and event staff, resulting in a truly remarkable occasion. We extend our sincere thanks once again.

Text: OMINATO Yuya (Assistant Professor, WIAS)