About the JSPSAAA
The Australia-Japan Science and Innovation partnership is the fifth edition of the JSPSAAA annual symposium. The event aims to give researchers the opportunity to present the collaborative work between Australia and Japan and explore the possibilities that bilateral collaboration can bring to their research.
The two-day event will take place in Canberra. It will bring together researchers from diverse backgrounds and fields of research to catalyse the collaborations to enrich the strong bilateral science and research relationship between Australia and Japan under the following themes:
- Health
- Advanced materials and manufacturing
- Energy
- Food
- Environment
- Large research infrastructures
- Relationships, institutions and society
Catalysing Australia–Japan Science and Innovation is an opportunity to celebrate the collaborative research and industry links between Australia and Japan, and to showcase the science and innovation ties between the two countries.
The symposium aims to strengthen such bilateral relationships, bringing together Australian early and mid-career researchers with their Japanese peers in areas of mutual scientific interest. It also aims to expand international networking with Japan through the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Alumni Association in Australia (JSPSAAA) and building collaboration and connection between institutions.
Engagement and public outreach to promote Australian expertise in science in Japan, promoting awareness of the opportunities and benefits of scientific collaboration with Japan, promoting Australia as a priority partner for Japan in science and innovation and identifying and addressing common issues between Japanese and Australian scientific communities, are among the priorities of this symposium.
This symposium is proudly sponsored by the Australia-Japan Foundation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australian Academy of Science, University of Canberra, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Alumni Association in Australia (JSPSAAA).
The Australia-Japan Foundation
The financial support from the Australia-Japan Foundation will be used in this symposium to enhance industry engagement and celebrate the collaborative links between Australia's and Japan's research and industry.
Professor Ashraf Ghanem
Chair
Professor Ghanem studied Chemistry at the University of Stuttgart, Germany and has been working at the University of Canberra since 2011. He is a Fellow and past President of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) ACT and the Head of the Chirality group in Canberra. Professor Ghanem’s research interests lie in asymmetric and enantioselective catalysis and analysis. His work on lipase, dirhodium catalysis and chiral analysis has been well-cited worldwide. He has more than 90 international publications. Professor Ghanem teaches into Organic Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Canberra and is passionate about promoting science in schools. His well known with his crystal growing competition and slime experiments are well-known for inspiring kids to think about science.
Dr Tamim Darwish
Dr Darwish is the Leader of the National Deuteration Facility (NDF) at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). He obtained his PhD degree in Chemistry from the University of New South Wales (2006). Currently, he oversees the capability development, research, industry engagement, and scientific activities of the NDF. He is a JSPS fellow and currently holds the role of the secretary of the executive committee of JSPSAAA.
Dr Ruth Eriksen
Dr Eriksen is a Research Scientist with CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, working primarily on phytoplankton ecology and taxonomy and specialising in a suite of microscopy techniques. Current applications include biological oceanography, ecotoxicology and biogeography. She has participated in multiple Antarctic research voyages with both the Australian and Japanese Antarctic Research programs, and has served as both Secretary of the JSPSAAA, and the Tasmanian representative.
Dr Sohel Julovi
Dr Julovi is a medically trained research scientist and received his PhD from Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine. His research is focused on combating chronic diseases. Currently, he is working at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) and leads research programs to elucidate the connection between chronic kidney disease and both cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis. He has received several national and international research awards and fellowships, including JSPS Fellowship and philanthropic grants.
Dr Matthew McKenzie
Dr McKenzie is a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science at Deakin University where he heads the Mitochondrial Disease Research Laboratory. Dr McKenzie’s research focuses on understanding how inherited defects in mitochondrial fat and sugar metabolism contribute to disease pathogenesis, as well as the development of novel therapeutics to treat these diseases. Dr McKenzie has long term collaborations with mitochondrial disease clinicians in Japan and has been a member of the JSPSAAA since 2018.
Dr Xin Fu Tan
Dr Tan is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Queensland. Her research interests cover the areas of electronics packaging, Li-ion batteries, hydrogen storage materials, synchrotron radiation techniques and electron microscopy. She is committed to ongoing collaborative work with Japanese industry and academic partners, which facilitates access to the SPring-8 synchrotron and state-of-the-art TEMs in Kyushu University.
