Ohio State and Nagoya University launch data research exchange program

Translational Data Analytics was honored to host a Japanese delegation on March 9 to celebrate the creation of a faculty exchange program in data research between Ohio State and Nagoya University.

At a special signing ceremony, Ohio State alumnus Shuzaburo Takeda, senior advisor to the Japanese minister of education; Nagoya University President Seiichi Matsuo; and Hiroshi Murase, dean elect of Nagoya University’s Graduate School of Information Science, formalized the new program with Ohio State Provost Bruce McPheron; TDA lead dean David Manderscheid, executive dean and vice provost of arts and sciences; and David Williams, executive dean of Ohio State’s professional colleges and dean of the College of Engineering. Among those in attendance were representatives of the Japanese government and embassy; Columbus 2020; JobsOhio; Japan Science and Technology Agency; New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization; Toyota Research Institute of North America and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; Okaya (USA), Inc.; Tokyo Electric Power Company; Suzuyo America, Inc.; and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc.

A Memorial Seminar followed the signing event, with research presentations by Kazuya Takeda, Nagoya University School of Informatics, and TDA affiliates Rongjun Qin (geodetic and computer science engineering) and Steven Quiring (geography). The theme: using big data for to help society. K. Takeda presented some of his work in behavior signal processing devising ways to understand driving behavior, while Qin discussed his use of satellite data to map damage and recovery from natural disasters, and Quiring focused on his use of satellite and census track data to predict damage from major weather events like hurricanes.

The partnership between TDA and the Graduate School of Information Science at Nagoya was the brainchild of S. Takeda, who advocates for a Japan-U.S. relationship built around joint research and education that advances data science. Takeda, who earned his PhD in physics from Ohio State, has it his personal mission to create what he calls “a data center for the future.” In this digital age, he believes, cooperative programs among government agencies, industry, and universities like Ohio State where data science is a priority are the best way to prepare for the future.

“Sharing the idea of translational data analytics as the core, collaborations among scientific disciplines are needed for solving global issues,” he says. “Through these collaborations, each university and company can improve.”

Ohio State faculty who are interested in participating in TDA’s new faculty exchange program with Nagoya University’s Graduate School of Informatics can email TDA for more information. Visits will last 3-6 months beginning summer 2017 or earlier if possible, and include ample financial support.

by Translational Data Analytics at Ohio State.