Harvard, Japanese science organization sign memorandum of understanding

Officials of Harvard and RIKEN, Japan’s equivalent of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Lanoratories have October 29 signed a Memorandum of Understanding to encourage and facilitate collaborations between Harvard and RIKEN researchers.

Michael D. Smith, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Venkstesh Narayanamurti, Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Jeremy Bloxham, FAS Divisional Dean for Physical Sciences, met at the Harvard Faculty Club with a RIKEN delegation to celebrate the signing of the agreement.

RIKEN exists to conduct comprehensive research in science and technology, and to publicly disseminate the results of its research. Areas explored by RIKEN include physics, chemistry, medical science, biology, and engineering.

RIKEN was founded in 1917 as a private research organization, and four years ago was reorganized as an independent administrative organization under Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Harvard Provost Steven Hyman served for six years on the International Advisory Board of the Riken Brain Sciences Institute, in Wako City, Japan.