Program

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* Schedule subject to change

Monday, September 7

Tuesday, September 8

Wednesday, September 9

Thursday, September 10

Friday, September 11

September 7 (Monday)

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09:00-09:30

Registration

09:30-09:45

Opening remarks

09:45-11:15

Lecture 1

1. SASTIA Prama Putri (Associate Professor, The University of Osaka, Japan）

Microbial Fermentation and Metabolomics for Improved Food Quality and Functionality: Case Studies of Tempe and Cocoa

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• SASTIA Prama Putri

  Microbial fermentation plays a crucial role in improving food quality, functionality, and consumer acceptance through the transformation of metabolites that influence nutritional value, bioactivity, and sensory characteristics. Recent advances in metabolomics provide powerful tools to comprehensively characterize these biochemical changes and identify key metabolites associated with desirable quality attributes. This presentation highlights the application of microbial fermentation and metabolomics through two representative case studies: tempe and cocoa. In tempe production, metabolomics-based investigations using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) demonstrated that microbial intervention during the soybean soaking step significantly altered the metabolome, resulting in increased levels of amino acids, organic acids, and bioactive compounds. The introduction of beneficial microorganisms such as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum enhanced metabolite diversity, reduced sugar contents, and improved the functional properties of the final fermented product, demonstrating the potential of fermentation strategies to enhance the nutritional quality of plant-based foods. In cocoa processing, metabolomics revealed how fermentation-associated postharvest interventions modulate flavor development and quality. Studies evaluating pre-drying and mechanical de-pulping treatments showed significant changes in both volatile and non-volatile metabolites throughout fermentation and subsequent processing stages. Pre-drying increased important flavor precursors, including organic acids and reducing sugars, leading to improved fresh-fruit and acidity sensory attributes while reducing bitterness and astringency. In contrast, mechanical de-pulping promoted the accumulation of compounds associated with bitterness and less desirable flavor profiles. Integrated metabolomic and sensory analyses identified key quality markers, including citric acid, malic acid, catechin, epicatechin, and aroma-related metabolites that contribute to cocoa flavor formation. These case studies demonstrate that combining microbial fermentation with metabolomics enables a deeper understanding of food biochemical transformations and supports the development of innovative strategies to enhance nutritional functionality, sensory quality, and overall value of fermented foods.

11:15-11:30

Coffee break

11:30-12:30

Lecture 2

1. Katayoun Amirfard DADEH (Assistant Professor, Tohoku University, Japan）

tba

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• Katayoun Amirfard DADEH

  tba

12:30-13:30

Lunch break

13:30-13:45

Afternoon registration

13:45-15:15

Lecture 3

1. Gakushi ISHIMURA (Professor, Tohoku University, Japan）

tba

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• Gakushi ISHIMURA

  tba

15:15-15:30

Coffee break

15:30-17:00

Open discussion

September 8 (Tuesday)

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09:00-09:30

Registration

09:30-11:00

Lecture 4

1. Noriko LILY (Conference interpreter, translator, and educator, Lily's TranSupport, Japan）

Communicating for a Sustainable Society: Cross-Cultural Communication and Global Leadership

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• Noriko LILY

  Achieving a sustainable society requires not only scientific knowledge and technological innovation, but also the ability to communicate ideas effectively across cultures, disciplines, and professional backgrounds. As environmental challenges become increasingly global and interconnected, researchers and future leaders must be able to explain complex concepts clearly, engage in constructive dialogue, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders to create meaningful solutions.
  This lecture explores the essential role of international communication in advancing sustainability. Drawing on practical experience in multilingual and multicultural communication, it introduces strategies for conveying scientific ideas in accessible language, facilitating cross-cultural discussions, and building trust among people with different perspectives. Participants will also learn communication techniques used by professional conference interpreters, including active listening, message structuring, anticipation, and concise summarization, which can enhance clarity and confidence in international academic and professional settings.
  By strengthening these communication skills, participants will be better prepared to contribute to interdisciplinary collaboration, global partnerships, and evidence-based decision-making. The lecture highlights how effective communication can serve as a catalyst for innovation, inclusion, and collective action toward a more sustainable society.

11:00-11:15

Coffee break

11:15-12:15

Lecture 5

1. Delima Canny Valentine SIMARMATA (Assistant Professor, Tohoku University, Japan）

tba

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• Delima Canny Valentine SIMARMATA

  tba

12:15-13:15

Lunch break

13:15-13:30

Afternoon registration

13:30-14:30

Lecture 6

1. Amalia Nafisah Rahmani IRAWAN (Assistant Professor, Tohoku University, Japan）

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• Amalia Nafisah Rahmani IRAWAN

  tba

14:30-14:45

Coffee break

14:45-15:45

Workshop

15:45-16:00

Coffee break

16:00-17:00

Workshop

September 9 (Wednesday)

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1-day field work to Ichinoseki, Hiraizumi along the Kitakami River: tba (to be informed to the participants)

September 10 (Thursday)

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Free work day, co-research meeting, etc.

September 11 (Friday)

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09:00-09:30

Registration

09:30-11:00

Lecture 7

Toshiya HAYASHI (Co-Founder, Creative Director, Designer, Copywriter, we+ inc., Japan)

"The Emerging of GeoAI from Geospatial Information to Geospatiotemporal Intelligence"

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• Toshiya HAYASHI

  “New Perspectives on Materials” explores new perspectives on materiality by examining the intersection of urban and natural resources through we+‘s self-initiated projects such as Urban Origin, Nature Study, and Hidden Layers. These initiatives reflect the studio’s mission to create designs that bridge the artificial and the natural, the contemporary and the traditional, offering fresh perspectives on coexistence and sustainability.
  Urban Origin investigates the materials generated by contemporary cities, particularly Tokyo. Rather than viewing these as waste, the project reimagines them as vernacular materials of the modern metropolis. By collecting, processing, and transforming these materials through hands-on experimentation, the project reflects on the origins of making in an era when production has become increasingly fragmented and complex, reconnecting designers with the material itself.
  Nature Study explores new possibilities for design by learning from the ways humans have lived in harmony with nature throughout history. Through research into natural materials, biological processes, and overlooked natural phenomena, the project seeks to reveal alternative ways of creating objects that work in harmony with ecological systems rather than in opposition to them. It investigates how natural intelligence and material behaviors can inspire new forms of design that are both innovative and environmentally conscious.
  Hidden Layers focuses on the overlooked aspects of traditional craftsmanship and Japanese manufacturing. By examining by-products, production residues, and the manufacturing processes themselves—elements that have historically been regarded as secondary or invisible—the project uncovers untapped values and new creative opportunities. Through close collaboration with artisans and manufacturers, it reconsiders industrial knowledge and inherited techniques as sources of innovation, revealing new possibilities embedded within existing production systems.
  Together, these three research frameworks demonstrate that innovation does not necessarily arise from inventing entirely new materials. Rather, it can emerge through reexamining the overlooked resources, processes, and relationships that already surround us. By shifting the way we perceive materials, we+ proposes new possibilities for design that connect culture, ecology, and industry while addressing contemporary environmental and social challenges.

11:00-11:15

Coffee break

11:15-12:00

Student Activity

12:00-13:00

Lunch break

13:00-13:15

Afternoon registration

13:15-14:15

Workshop

14:15-14:30

Coffee break

14:30-15:30

Workshop

15:30-15:45

Closing remarks