As part of its diversity initiatives, the Japan Science and Technology Agency ( JST ) selects female researchers who are conducting outstanding research that contributes to a sustainable society and future, and the sixth "Shining Female Researcher Award (Jun Ashida Award)" (sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and supported by Jun Ashida) winners were announced at the Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) Miraikan Hall on the 7th floor (Odaiba, Tokyo). The award ceremony and talk session for the sixth award were held at the Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) Miraikan Hall on the 7th floor (Odaiba, Tokyo).

This year, after a rigorous screening process among many excellent applicants, the "Shining Female Researcher Award (Jun Ashida Award)" was awarded to Emi Hasegawa, an associate professor at Kyoto University, who has achieved outstanding research results on the nerve cells and circuits that control sleep and wakefulness. She was presented with a commemorative trophy and a prize of 1 million yen from the Ashida Fund.

The "Shining Female Researcher Promotion Award ( Jun Ashida Award ) " was awarded to Nihon L'Oreal K.K., and the "Shining Female Researcher Award (Japan Science and Technology Agency President's Award)" was awarded to Naoko Nagatsuka of the Earth Surface System Research Center, Global Environment Research Institute, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology.

Photo: From left: Michiko Kusuda ( L'Oreal Japan ) , Tae Ashida, Emi Hasegawa, and Naoko Nagatsuka ( titles omitted)

Following the award ceremony, there were lectures by the winners and a talk session on the theme of "The history and future of the Jun Ashida Award: Pave a bright future with young female researchers."

The panelists included sleep scientist Masashi Yanagisawa ( Director of the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine, University of Tsukuba ) , who has become a familiar face on television and other media in recent years, recipient of the 2nd Jun Ashida Award, Minami Sakai (Chief Researcher, Sakai Star and Planet Formation Laboratory, RIKEN Exploratory Research Center), and Tae Ashida.

Photo: From left: moderator Gururaj Malavika (Science Communicator at the Miraikan, Japan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation), Professor Nami Sakai, Professor Masashi Yanagisawa, and Tae Ashida