The awards ceremony for "The Commendation for Science and Technology" to honor those who have made noteworthy contributions either to research and development of science and technology, or to advancing its understanding, was held at the Toranomon Pastoral Hotel in Tokyo on April 14, 2009.
Eleven people from RIKEN received awards.
After the awards ceremony, the winners visited the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
(From the left) Associate Chief Scientist Dr. and Mrs. Uchiyama, Group Director Dr. Sasai, Chief Scientist Dr. and Mrs. Suzuki, Team Leader Dr. Yamashita
Unit Leader Dr. Ishikawa
(From the left) ASI Research Scientist Dr. Ariyoshi, Associate Chief Scientist Dr. Uchiyama, Senior Research Scientist Dr. Kawano
Invited Senior Scientist Dr. and Mrs. Benno
Visiting Scientist Dr. Ohtake
(From the left) Team Leader Dr. Saito, Group Director Dr. Sasai
Vice Minister Yamauchi and award winners
Prizes for Science and Technology
Development Category
Awarded for: Contributions to the socio-economic and improvement of the lifestyle of the people of Japan for a person who has invented some outstanding piece of research or development (32 awards this fiscal year).
- Dr. Satoshi Wada
Vice Chief Scientist, RIKEN Advanced Science Institute
Research Category
Awarded for: Highly original research or development which has great potential to develop the science and technology of Japan (47 awards this fiscal year).
- Dr. Yoshiki Sasai
Group Director, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology - Dr. Toshinori Suzuki
Chief Scientist, RIKEN Advanced Science Institute
(Main job: Professor, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University)
Public Understanding Promotion Category
Awarded to: Persons who have advance the understanding of science and technology among young people and the general public, or have worked to spread knowledge about science and technology in a particular region (20 awards this fiscal year).
- Dr. Yoshimi Benno
Head of Benno Laboratory, Center for Intellectual Property Strategies
The Young Scientists' Prize
Awarded to: Young researchers under forty who have done groundbreaking or original research, or who have outstanding research ability. (81 awards this fiscal year).
- Dr. Seiichiro Ariyoshi
[Research Scientist, RIKEN Advanced Science Institute] - Dr. Fumihiko Ishikawa
Unit Leader, RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology - Dr. Masanobu Uchiyama
Associate Chief Scientist, RIKEN Advanced Science Institute - Dr. Yutaka Ohtake
Visiting Scientist, Center for Intellectual Property Strategies
(Main job: Lecturer, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo) - Dr. Yukio Kawano
Senior Research Scientist, RIKEN Advanced Science Institute - Dr. Atsuko Yamashita
Team Leader, RIKEN SPring-8 Center - Dr. Mitinori Saitou
Team Leader, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology
(Main job: Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University)