On Friday, December 22, 2017, a graduation ceremony was held in the Administration Bureau Conference Room.
President Yokoya presented degrees to each graduate and gave the congratulatory speech to the 4 graduates.

After the ceremony, commemorative photographs were taken and the graduates enjoyed the graduation ceremony with the president, executive directors and their supervising professors.

*Number of Graduates in December
【Doctoral Graduates】
Information Science 1
Biological Sciences 3
Materials Science 1

【Graduates who completed the Doctoral program by submitting the dissertation】
Biological Sciences 2

Total 7

【Congratulatory Remarks to Graduating Students】

I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the doctoral students who have been awarded degrees today. Including those attending today there are 7 graduates receiving their degrees, with 4 of them international students.

I have heard that many of you have chosen the path of researchers at universities and research institutions. You will, with your degree in hand, start or re-start your new lives in the workforce working as professional researchers.

Currently, science and technology are in an era of revolutionary change. In recent years, keywords in science and technology are ICT technology related to information science: the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Data Science. These technological innovations will, of course, bring about enormous change throughout society.

These innovations in ICT technology have led to notable developments in science and technology fields outside of information science. For example, in the field of biological sciences there is the existing research area of bio-informatics and in materials science there is materials informatics.

In pursuit of a 'Super Smart Society' in which a myriad of things are connected to the internet fusing the 'cyber world' and the 'real world' and which is based upon analysis of huge amounts of real time-collected data that may be accessed from around the world through networks, a new research paradigm is developing called 'data-driven science' or 'AI-driven science.

You have explored the depths of your individual areas of research in the different fields of information, biological and materials sciences and I believe that you have not had the chance to perform research together spanning different research areas and fields at NAIST.

However, in the near future there is a strong possibility of you working on the same team working towards the same goal.

It is currently thought that the computer ability will surpass our human ability in the 2040's and technical singularity will be achieved, and, at that time, the majority of the jobs existing today will disappear and it is predicted that new jobs will appear.

In the 2040's you will be the central part of society.

I hope that you will be active at the center of new science and technology creation and application as researchers and engineers that respond flexibly to developments in science and technology through a broad understanding of various areas and fields to continually pursue the opening of new frontiers for exploration, and effectively overcome what singularity may bring.

At NAIST you have not only gained academic expertise in your respective fields, but also, through your thesis research, you have the valuable experiences through which you developed the ability to identify problems, explore and implement solutions to these problems, evaluate the outcomes, and write academic papers on the outcomes through discussions with people having various viewpoints.

While this experience may have presented you with difficulties at times, I am confident that the network you have created here, the 'kizuna' or individual ties you have made, will assure your future as researchers and engineers.

NAIST's role do not end with us sending you out into society. Rather, the NAIST faculty and staff considers our role as facilitating the building of strong relationships with alumni so that each and all of you will be able to continue your creative lives in an ever-changing community of science and technology.

This year on Sunday Nov. 12 we held our Homecoming Day and this is to be an annual event held every year. We hope that you will come and visit us at that time.

Additionally, NAIST is strengthening its international network of graduates who are active around the globe through international satellite offices and activities. We hope that you participate in and assist our pursuits.

In concluding my message, I would like to congratulate all of you again. We look forward to your continued successes and offer our support for your future endeavors.

　

Naokazu Yokoya, President, Nara Institute of Science and Technology
December 22, 2017