Award Ceremony 2022

 The Award Ceremony for the 2022 (29th) International Cosmos Prize was held at Sumitomolife Izumi Hall, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, on November 9th, 2022.
 Some 350 participants attended the event, including distinguished guests from Japan and abroad. At 3:00 p.m., the Ceremony commenced with to the majestic strains of pipe organ music. Dr. OIKE Kazuo as Chairperson of the International Cosmos Prize Committee and Dr. SHIRAYAMA Yoshihisa as Chairperson of the Screening Committee of Experts accompanied by Expo '90 Foundation Chairperson Mr. MITARAI Fujio. After that, the hosts introduced the member of their respective committees. The guests of honor took the platform and were introduced to the audience. They included Dr. IWATSUKI Kunio, 2016 prizewinner, Dr. Peter Bellwood. 2021 prizewinner, Mr. James Hathaway, Consul for Political and Economic Affairs U. S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe (on behalf of the U.S. Ambassador to Japan), Mr. DEKURA Kouichi, Director, Kinki Regional Agricultural Administration Office (on behalf of Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries), Mr. IGA-RASHI Yasuyuki, Deputy Director-General, City Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (on behalf of Minister, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism), Mr. TANAKA Seigo, Osaka Prefecture Deputy Governor (on behalf of Governor, Osaka Prefecture), Mr. HASHIMOTO Hiroshi, Director, Public Works Bureau, City of Osaka (on behalf of Mayor, Osaka City). After that, Expo'90 Foundation Chairperson Mr. MITARAI delivered an address on behalf of the host organization. Dr. OIKE as Chairperson of the International Cosmos Prize Committee, described the prizewinner selection process. Then, Dr. Felicia Keesing, the 2022 Cosmos Prizewinner, took the platform. Chairperson, Dr. OIKE outlined the reasons for the Award. Dr. Keesing was awarded a commendation, a supplementary prize by Expo'90 Foundation Chairperson Mr. MITARAI and a medallion by Dr. OIKE. On behalf of the guests, master of ceremony read a congratulatory message from Prime Minister, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio. And, Mr. James Hathaway, Consul for Political and Economic Affairs U. S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe read a congratulatory message from Mr. Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
 Then introductory video of the prizewinner was presented on the screen. Dr. Keesing delivered the prizewinner's address. The ceremony concluded with celebratory musical performances by a cellist, Ms. NIIKURA Hitomi and COSMOS ensemble 2022.

Click on the link below for more details.
2022 International Cosmos Prize Report PDF:3.28MB

Commemorative Lecture

 The 2022 International Cosmos Prize commemorative lectures were held at Yasuda Auditorium, The University of Tokyo (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo) on November 13.
 Dr. Keesing gave a commemorative lecture after the introduction by Dr. SHIRAYAMA Yoshihisa. After the lecture, Dr. OKABE Kimiko offered the topics, followed by dialogues by Dr. Keesing and Dr. OKABE. And Dr. Keesing and Dr. OKABE answered to questions from the audience, facilitated by Dr. SAKURA Osamu.

【Time and date】
 Sunday, November 13, 13:30 - 15:30
【Place】
 Yasuda Auditorium, The University of Tokyo (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo) Online delivery available (Zoom webinar)
【Attendance】
 640 approx (210 on-site participants, 429 online participants)

【Program】
Introduction of the Prizewinner
 Dr. SHIRAYAMA Yoshihisa (Chairperson, International Cosmos Prize Screening Committee of Experts / Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University)
Commemorative Lecture "How Biodiversity Loss Fuels Pandemics"
 Dr. Felicia Keesing
Topic Offering
 Dr. OKABE Kimiko (re-employed Research Scientist, Biodiversity and Climate Change Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, National Forestry Research and Development Institute)
Dialogue and Q&A session
 Dr. Felicia Keesing
 Dr. OKABE Kimiko
 Coordinator: Dr. SAKURA Osamu (Member, International Cosmos Prize Screening Committee of Experts / Professor, Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, The University of Tokyo)