Winners of the Commendation for Science and Technology
The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
RIKEN
April 15, 2009
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. Saitou, Group Director Dr. Sasai |
 |
| Vice Minister Yamauchi and award winners |
Winners from RIKEN
Prizes for Science and Technology
1) 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]
2) 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)
3) 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)
Press release from MEXT (in Japanese only)